11 ms·

Tesla Snags Apple VP Of Mac Hardware To Lead New Vehicle Development

75 points by ot 13y ago

loceng 13y ago
Well-played.
- AsymetricCom 13y ago
  Would have been better-played 6 mos ago.
  - loceng 13y ago
    Why?..
    - pbreit 13y ago
      Guessing a lame attempt to tweak Tesla for some hardware mishap such as the fire.
      - loceng 13y ago
        Are you trying to put down Tesla down for using a smart business tactic, while acquiring someone good?
      - Zr40 13y ago
        A self-contained fire, caused by hitting a large object, which only started spreading once emergency services broke through the battery casing. Exactly how is this a 'hardware mishap'?
        mistercow 13y ago
        It wasn't Tesla's fault, but it was still a hardware mishap.
        pbreit 13y ago
        If that's directed at me, you're preaching to the choir.
    - AsymetricCom 13y ago
      Well, for one, it wasn't already clear to the public that TSLA was going to be successful then.
      - toomuchtodo 13y ago
        The investing public says otherwise: https://www.google.com/finance/chart?q=NASDAQ:TSLA&tlf=12&chst=vks&chs=330x96&chsc=1&p=6M https://www.google.com/finance/chart?q=NASDAQ:TSLA&tlf=12&ch...
        AsymetricCom 13y ago
        So what was he waiting for?
        toomuchtodo 13y ago
        Perhaps not to see how Tesla was going to do, but to see if Apple could continue its streak. After their latest announcement events, some may argue that streak has ended.
        bennyg 13y ago
        You are reading waaaay too much into this.
      - loceng 13y ago
        I don't see how the timing would have better then vs. now. It's a strategic move to bring someone talented from an extremely valuable company who produces "great" consumer products over to Tesla.
      - mistercow 13y ago
        Don't you think that might have also made Field less eager to join them?
codex 13y ago
Before Apple, Field was VP of Design & Engineering and CTO at Segway.
- grinich 13y ago
  I highly recommend the book Code Name Ginger, which is the remarkable story behind the Segway. http://www.amazon.com/Code-Name-Ginger-Behind-Segway/dp/1578516730/ref=pd_sim_b_2 http://www.amazon.com/Code-Name-Ginger-Behind-Segway/dp/1578...
  - codex 13y ago
    What's remarkable to me is the arrogance of Kamen, when to almost everyone it was clear that the Segway was a solution in search of a problem, and would ultimately fail.
    - seanmcdirmid 13y ago
      Sometimes you have to take a risk. The Segway could have panned out much more differently than it did, there was a chance that it could have succeeded big. Also, most startups fail.
      - PanMan 13y ago
        How could the Segway panned out differently? (Serious question). I was quite exited to see it at first, but realistically it doesn't have many advantages over a bicycle, and a lot of disadvantages (biggest one is price).
        pjmlp 13y ago
        It gets used a lot in Europe for tourist group rounds around the cities. :)
        JanezStupar 13y ago
c2 13y ago
Interesting move. While I can see some overlap in experience leading large technical projects where industrial design and battery life are of paramount importance, I wonder how much of that experience will translate into actual car development. From the outside looking in I'd rather fill that role with someone with car industry experience bringing actual cars to market, because battery life and industrial design are somewhat fungible, but if Tesla is late on bringing car models to market that has a serious effect on their timelines.
- jcomis 13y ago
  Did you even read the article? He has automotive experience (Ford) and other transportation experience (Segway).
  - c2 13y ago
    I missed it the first time through, although I'm not surprised as in the article his previous automobile engineering experience seems downplayed. Equating his segway experience to all of transportation seems a stretch. According to his linked in profile he was a development engineer at Ford for 6 years and hasn't worked in the car industry for 20 years. Certainly he does not seem to possess any executive experience in the car industry or related to car development. As a TSLA investor, it makes more sense to me to have someone in that role who actually has experience getting cars to market (ie. someone like Bob Lutz).
    - abat 13y ago
      By the same logic, Apple shouldn't have hired him and Elon Musk should not have started Tesla.
      - c2 13y ago
        I would say his industrial design experience at Segway (and Deka) was more relevant to Apple. Let's not forget history here. Musk had a very hard time releasing the Roadster, and it was one of the most painfully delayed automotive launches in history. They were close to running out of money numerous times in the launch, and needed key loans and cash at key times (including a huge cash infusion from Musk himself) otherwise they would have failed. At least some of that based on the public information at the time can be attributed to Musk's inexperience in the car world. They made it, but it wasn't without a lot of luck. I worry about decisions like this because if there's one thing Tesla really needs to execute on, it's getting new car models out the door in a very timely fashion. Another example - Nardelli was also a brilliant leader at Home Depot, but he couldn't do enough to save Chrysler. The car industry is a very different beast then building wheel chairs and segways. Personally I would prefer someone in the new car development driver's seat with a bit more experience. Putting someone without that experience is such a leadership role seems like a reckless move by Tesla. This is all just my opinion. I'd be happy to discuss further and share opinions.

75 points by ot 13y ago

loceng 13y ago

Well-played.

AsymetricCom 13y ago
Would have been better-played 6 mos ago.
- loceng 13y ago
  Why?..
  - pbreit 13y ago
    Guessing a lame attempt to tweak Tesla for some hardware mishap such as the fire.
    - loceng 13y ago
      Are you trying to put down Tesla down for using a smart business tactic, while acquiring someone good?
    - Zr40 13y ago
      A self-contained fire, caused by hitting a large object, which only started spreading once emergency services broke through the battery casing. Exactly how is this a 'hardware mishap'?
      - mistercow 13y ago
        It wasn't Tesla's fault, but it was still a hardware mishap.
      - pbreit 13y ago
        If that's directed at me, you're preaching to the choir.
  - AsymetricCom 13y ago
    Well, for one, it wasn't already clear to the public that TSLA was going to be successful then.
    - toomuchtodo 13y ago
      The investing public says otherwise: https://www.google.com/finance/chart?q=NASDAQ:TSLA&tlf=12&chst=vks&chs=330x96&chsc=1&p=6M https://www.google.com/finance/chart?q=NASDAQ:TSLA&tlf=12&ch...
      - AsymetricCom 13y ago
        So what was he waiting for?
        toomuchtodo 13y ago
        Perhaps not to see how Tesla was going to do, but to see if Apple could continue its streak. After their latest announcement events, some may argue that streak has ended.
        bennyg 13y ago
        You are reading waaaay too much into this.
    - loceng 13y ago
      I don't see how the timing would have better then vs. now. It's a strategic move to bring someone talented from an extremely valuable company who produces "great" consumer products over to Tesla.
    - mistercow 13y ago
      Don't you think that might have also made Field less eager to join them?

codex 13y ago

Before Apple, Field was VP of Design & Engineering and CTO at Segway.

grinich 13y ago
I highly recommend the book Code Name Ginger, which is the remarkable story behind the Segway. http://www.amazon.com/Code-Name-Ginger-Behind-Segway/dp/1578516730/ref=pd_sim_b_2 http://www.amazon.com/Code-Name-Ginger-Behind-Segway/dp/1578...
- codex 13y ago
  What's remarkable to me is the arrogance of Kamen, when to almost everyone it was clear that the Segway was a solution in search of a problem, and would ultimately fail.
  - seanmcdirmid 13y ago
    Sometimes you have to take a risk. The Segway could have panned out much more differently than it did, there was a chance that it could have succeeded big. Also, most startups fail.
    - PanMan 13y ago
      How could the Segway panned out differently? (Serious question). I was quite exited to see it at first, but realistically it doesn't have many advantages over a bicycle, and a lot of disadvantages (biggest one is price).
      - pjmlp 13y ago
        It gets used a lot in Europe for tourist group rounds around the cities. :)
        JanezStupar 13y ago

c2 13y ago

Interesting move. While I can see some overlap in experience leading large technical projects where industrial design and battery life are of paramount importance, I wonder how much of that experience will translate into actual car development. From the outside looking in I'd rather fill that role with someone with car industry experience bringing actual cars to market, because battery life and industrial design are somewhat fungible, but if Tesla is late on bringing car models to market that has a serious effect on their timelines.

jcomis 13y ago
Did you even read the article? He has automotive experience (Ford) and other transportation experience (Segway).
- c2 13y ago
  I missed it the first time through, although I'm not surprised as in the article his previous automobile engineering experience seems downplayed. Equating his segway experience to all of transportation seems a stretch. According to his linked in profile he was a development engineer at Ford for 6 years and hasn't worked in the car industry for 20 years. Certainly he does not seem to possess any executive experience in the car industry or related to car development. As a TSLA investor, it makes more sense to me to have someone in that role who actually has experience getting cars to market (ie. someone like Bob Lutz).
  - abat 13y ago
    By the same logic, Apple shouldn't have hired him and Elon Musk should not have started Tesla.
    - c2 13y ago
      I would say his industrial design experience at Segway (and Deka) was more relevant to Apple. Let's not forget history here. Musk had a very hard time releasing the Roadster, and it was one of the most painfully delayed automotive launches in history. They were close to running out of money numerous times in the launch, and needed key loans and cash at key times (including a huge cash infusion from Musk himself) otherwise they would have failed. At least some of that based on the public information at the time can be attributed to Musk's inexperience in the car world. They made it, but it wasn't without a lot of luck. I worry about decisions like this because if there's one thing Tesla really needs to execute on, it's getting new car models out the door in a very timely fashion. Another example - Nardelli was also a brilliant leader at Home Depot, but he couldn't do enough to save Chrysler. The car industry is a very different beast then building wheel chairs and segways. Personally I would prefer someone in the new car development driver's seat with a bit more experience. Putting someone without that experience is such a leadership role seems like a reckless move by Tesla. This is all just my opinion. I'd be happy to discuss further and share opinions.