Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) has announced that it hired an executive from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to head up its vehicle programs. Doug Field’s new title at Tesla will be Vice President of Vehicle Programs, according to a press release on the automaker’s website.
Shares of Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) started jumping after the announcement, climbing more than 5 percent in late afternoon trading.
Field will head up new vehicle development at Tesla
The automaker says Field will be heading up driving development for its new vehicles. While working at Apple, Field’s title was Vice President of Mac Hardware Engineering. Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) applauds his work at Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and says he headed up a number of new products there, including the newly revamped MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and iMac.
Field’s background isn’t entirely in the consumer tech space, however. When he started his career, he was an engineer at Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), making his jump from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) seem like a logical step.
Tesla’s Musk speaks on Field
“Tesla’s future depends on engineers who can create the most innovative, technologically advanced vehicles in the world,” said Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) CEO Elon Musk in a statement. “Doug’s experience in both consumer electronics and traditional automotive makes him an important addition to our leadership team.”
Field sounds just as excited about his move to Tesla as Musk is to have him on board. He will put his experience in the technology industry to good use at Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA), which Musk himself has described as a technology automotive company.
“Until Tesla came along, I had never seriously considered leaving Apple,” said Field in a statement. “I started my career with the goal of creating incredible cars, but ultimately left the auto industry in search of fast-paced, exciting engineering challenges elsewhere. As the first high tech auto company in modern history, Tesla is at last an opportunity for me and many others to pursue the dream of building the best cars in the world—while being part of one of the most innovative companies in Silicon Valley.”
