Former Apple Car Hire Johann Jungwirth Joins Volkswagen as Head of Digitalization Strategy

Johann JungwirthJohann Jungwirth has been appointed as the head of Volkswagen's new Digitalization Strategy Department in the company's Germany-based headquarters. In the past, Jungwirth worked for Mercedez-Benz and Apple, where he led the Mac Systems Engineering team.

More specifically, Jungwirth supported Apple's Special Projects Group, a tie that has connected him in the past to Apple's long-rumored Apple Car project. Although the German native could have left Apple solely for a job that brought him closer to home, it's still unclear exactly why he decided to leave the Cupertino-based company -- where he was allegedly working alongside the Apple Car team -- for Volkswagen.

Jungwirth was named Director, Mac Systems Engineering at Apple in Cupertino, CA (USA), in 2014. 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.

According to Volkswagen's press release, Jungwirth will help the car manufacturer look towards the future with a focus on digitilization in the automotive industry. The hire comes on the heels of Volkswagen's big diesel scandal that's plagued the company for the past few weeks, in which it was discovered that it cheated on emissions tests in a number of its diesel cars.

Popular Stories

New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18

18 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.2

Wednesday November 13, 2024 2:09 am PST by
Apple is set to release iOS 18.2 next month, bringing the second round of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update brings several major advancements to Apple's AI integration, including completely new image generation tools and a range of Visual Intelligence-based enhancements. There are a handful of new non-AI related feature controls incoming as well....
airtag purple

New AirTag Rumored to Launch in Mid-2025 With These Features

Sunday November 17, 2024 5:18 am PST by
Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it is now three over and a half years old. While the AirTag has not received any hardware updates since then, a new version of the item tracking accessory is rumored to be in development. Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag. Timing Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman....
M4 MacBook Pros Thumb

M4 MacBook Pro Uses Quantum Dot Display Technology

Thursday November 14, 2024 4:19 pm PST by
The M4 MacBook Pro models feature quantum dot display technology, according to display analyst Ross Young. Apple used a quantum dot film instead of a red KSF phosphor film, a change that provides more vibrant, accurate color results. Young says that Apple has opted for KSF for prior MacBook Pro models because it doesn't use toxic element cadmium (typical for quantum dot) and is more...
iCloud General Feature

Apple Acknowledges iCloud Notes Disappearing and Explains How to Fix

Saturday November 16, 2024 9:45 am PST by
Earlier this month, we reported about some iPhone users temporarily losing all of their notes in the Notes app after accepting Apple's updated iCloud terms and conditions. Apple has now indirectly acknowledged this issue in a new support document that outlines steps to follow if your iCloud notes are not appearing on your iPhone, iPad, or Vision Pro. Fortunately, the notes can be re-synced...
iPhone XS Max Black Background

Apple Adds iPhone XS Max and More to Vintage/Obsolete Product Lists

Friday November 15, 2024 8:09 am PST by
Apple today added a few older iPhone and Apple Watch models to the vintage and obsolete products list on its website. Apple has now classified the iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone XS Max as "vintage" worldwide. Apple considers a device to be "vintage" once five years have passed since the company stopped distributing it for sale. Apple and Apple Authorized Service Providers sometimes offer repairs...

Top Rated Comments

Junipr Avatar
118 months ago
"You see, we wanted our emissions to appear thinner than ever, so we hired someone from Apple" -VW
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kajje Avatar
118 months ago
He particularly will be responsible for the firmware team. Rumors are there are a couple VWs that needs an update.
Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
118 months ago
I'm not surprised.

I've always seen Volkswagen as the Apple of cars.
You mean their engines won't go beyond 5400RPM? :p
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WWPD Avatar
118 months ago
I love how VW cheats on diesel emission tests and it's a huge scandal costing billions in fines, GM knowingly sells faulty ignition switches that KILL people and they get a slap on the wrist. I guess that's a perk of being an American company (Government Motors).
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
deconstruct60 Avatar
118 months ago
...Apple, where he led the Mac Systems Engineering team.

More specifically, Jungwirth supported Apple's Special Projects Group, a tie that has connected ('https://www.macrumors.com/2015/02/13/apple-automotive-research-lab/') him in the past to Apple's long-rumored Apple Car project. ....
Maybe Apple can hire someone for the Apple car work so that the Mac System person could work on Macs full time. And some other folks to work on Macs full time.

Mac mini .... goes comatose for 2 years 12-14.
iMac (non retina ) .... pragmatically comatose for 2 years ( kneecapping the iMac by slapping a MBA processor in it is a chuckle engineering project. )
Mac Pro ..... comatose for 2 years

Sure there was a MacBook of late but seems like Apple can't walk and chew gum at the same time. One Mac system has to be hobbled so they can move another forward. There should be someone inside of Apple saying that is "BS".

Ditto on software half. Lots of GUI changes in OS X but "where is the beef" ?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
theMaccer Avatar
118 months ago
Dont touch my TDI.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)