VW recruits exec linked to Apple electric vehicle project

Volkswagen said on Tuesday it had appointed Johann Jungwirth as the head of its new digital strategy unit.

While Jungwirth was working in Apple, he was managing Mac Engineering along with the research and development efforts, and was an advisor for the special projects group.

Johann Jungwirth was working as the head of the Mac Systems Engineering at Apple.

The Romanian native’s move to Apple came after a five-year tenure as president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Research & Development North America in Silicon Valley, where his responsibilities included oversight of autonomous driving technologies and electric vehicle advancements. He was responsible for innovation in design and engineering in product development as well as hiring, growing and leading a multicultural research & development team and supporting the Special Projects Group. The company did not, however, give the press any details about what the “digitization strategy department” actually does or will be responsible for creating.

Between 2008 and 2014, he also was vice president infotainment and telematics.

Mr. Jungwirth’s contract with Volkswagen is effective from November 1.

Mr. Jungwirth took all his knowledge and expertise from Mercedes to Apple when the latter needed a hand for its electric powered self-driving automotive goals.

Jungwirth will report directly to new Volkswagen Group CEO Matthias Mueller, signaling the significance of his role for the German automaker. He also served as a development and research executive at Mercedes previously.