Volkswagen Poaches Apple’s Head of Global Battery Development

Leading German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen AG (ETR: VOW3) has poached Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) head of global battery development, Ahn Soonho, to the automotive maker where he will be heading the company’s development of electric vehicle batteries.

This switch seems to be a recent pattern taking shape since this marks the second senior executive leaving the tech giant for the automotive manufacturers in recent months. Two months ago, Apple’s head of car project, Doug Field, left the company for U.S based automotive manufacturer Ford Motor Co. (F).

Citing information from Ahn’s LinkedIn profile, he became the chief technology officer at the battery division Volkswagen Group Components. Ahn joined Apple back in 2018, before then, he was serving as an executive in next generation battery unit of leading South Korean consumer electronics manufacturer Samsung Electronics Co. (KRX: 005930).

Apple has been using batteries for its devices including IPhones, MacBook among its other devices, the company is also planning to use batteries in its electric vehicles which are being developed. Sources from the company say that by 2024, Apple is set to launch an electric car with advanced battery technology.

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