Apple to Transfer Executive to Automotive Giant General Motors

General Motors has tapped Apple Engineering Vice President Mike Abbott to lead its in-car software efforts. As automakers shift to electric vehicles, software has become a critical part of vehicles, from in-car audio and digital services to battery management. “We have entered the next phase of our technology-driven transformation that will accelerate innovation and enable new and exciting customer experiences,” said GM Executive Chairman Mary Barra. “Mike will lead our team in this area as a founder and entrepreneur,” he said. With the development of next-generation technologies, the increase in the pace of innovation, and the transition to electric vehicles, the digital transformation in the automotive industry is accelerating day by day. The American automotive company General Motors also made a new executive transfer from technology giant Apple. General Motors announced that it has transferred Apple Engineering Vice President Mike Abbott to lead in-car software work. Abbott will lead the team responsible for the entire software ecosystem. With the shift of automakers to electric vehicles, software has become the most critical part of vehicles, from in-car audio technologies to digital services to battery management. General Motors Chairman of the Board of Directors Mary Teresa Barra said, “We have entered the next phase of our technology-driven transformation, which will accelerate innovation and enable new and exciting customer experiences. Mike will lead our team in this area as a founder and entrepreneur.” Mike Abbott will undertake a role in the automotive giant’s structuring of bringing software development in-house and creating revenue-generating digital services for consumer and commercial customers. General Motors is laying out its plan to sell "software-defined vehicles" that offer a wide range of capabilities, from in-car subscriptions and apps to over-the-air updates. Mike Abbott, VP of engineering for Apple's Cloud Services Division, will report to GM President and CEO Mary Barra. “We have entered the next phase of our technology-driven transformation focused on rapidly scaling new electric vehicle models and our Ultifi software platform, which will accelerate innovation and enable new and exciting customer experiences,” GM Chairman Barra said in a statement. “Mike’s experience as a founder and entrepreneur, combined with his proven track record of creating and delivering some of the market’s most compelling software-defined solutions for consumers and businesses, creates a great ecosystem at General Motors.” Ultifi is an end-to-end software platform built on General Motors’ existing vehicle intelligence platform. Available on select GM models, Ultifi will bring together all modules of the vehicle on a single platform, making it easier and faster to deliver over-the-air software updates and giving owners access to subscription services and other tools. Ultifi is also planned to be integrated with Android Automotive, the operating system built into infotainment systems.