One Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) executive recently got a chance of a lifetime. iTunes chief, Eddy Cue, just joined Ferrari’s board of directors.
Cue stated, “I am pleased and proud to become a member of the board. I have personally dreamed of owning a Ferrari since I was 8 years old and have been lucky to be an owner for the past 5 years. I continue to be awed by the world-class design and engineering that only Ferrari can do. “
Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari’s chairman is equally happy. He said, “”I am delighted that Eddy Cue, one of the main driving forces behind Apple’s range of revolutionary products, has now joined our board. His huge experience in the dynamic, innovative world of the Internet will be of great assistance to us.”
Could this mean that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) has plans to enter the automotive industry? Maybe. Earlier this year, AppleInsider reported a possible patent that would allow the iPhone to sync with a vehicle that would allow them to share locations and contacts. There were also reports that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) was looking in China for automotive engineers for an unnamed product.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) also introduced a new feature called “Eyes Free” that worked with Siri voice control. They launched the iPhone-based program with nine car makers, including Mercedes-Benz, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (ETR:BMW), Land Rover, Audi AG (FRA:NSU) (ETR:NSU), Jaguar, Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE:TM), Honda Motor Co Ltd (NYSE:HMC), and Chrysler.
It was also revealed that di Montezemolo and Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO Tim Cook met to talk about corporate strategy and management relations. He summed up the meeting with, “We’re building cars, they build computers. But Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Ferrari are connected by the same passion, the same love for the product, maniacal attention to technology, but also to design.”
Whether or not there is indeed a future collaboration involving Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Ferrari remains to be seen. The fact that Eddy Cue is now a member of the Ferrari board is another big win for Apple.
