- Apple lays off over 600 employees in California, closing its car and smartwatch display projects.
- End of February marked the winding down of initiatives due to various challenges and executive indecision.
- Some members of the car project were reassigned to other teams like artificial intelligence or personal robotics.
Apple Inc. has announced the layoff of over 600 employees in California, signaling the end of its car and smartwatch display projects. The decision was made due to executive indecision, cost concerns, and engineering challenges, leading to the winding down of initiatives by the end of February.
According to filings with the California Employment Development Department, 371 employees were affected at the main car-related office in Santa Clara, with dozens more impacted across satellite offices. Some members of the Apple car group have been reassigned to other teams within the company, such as artificial intelligence or personal robotics, while the smartwatch display project also faced significant setbacks.
The concept of the Apple Car, though revolutionary, didn’t materialize as envisioned. Initially planned to be fully autonomous with a sleek, futuristic design, challenges led to the project’s shelving. Despite the setback, Apple continues to explore innovative ventures, focusing on areas like artificial intelligence and personal robotics to drive future growth.
