Still wondering how serious Apple is about its auto-manufacturing prospects? Just ask Mission Motors.
Reuters is reporting that the San Francisco-based electric motorcycle startup had to shutter its operations this past May after losing engineering talent to Apple.
"Mission had a great group of engineers, specifically electric drive expertise," ex-Mission Motors CEO Derek Kaufman told Reuters. "Apple knew that—they wanted it, and they went and got it."
According to Kaufman, Apple had targeted minds at the company last fall during Mission's high-priority funding round. He added that when two engineers from the company joined Apple—with many following in the months after—investors pulled out from Mission, leaving it with no choice but to close.
Mission Motors' electric bikes were compared with Tesla's cars. So, Apple reeling in engineers from Mission will only fuel rumored reports of the tech company building an electric car. Before this news, Apple already successfully recruited auto veterans from the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Ford.
Just two weeks ago, Tesla CEO Elon Musk blasted Apple, calling the tech juggernaut the "Tesla graveyard" for engineers that the electric-car maker fired and they've hired.
He then backtracked, saying he doesn't hate Apple and is glad it's reportedly working on an electric vehicle.
Having multiple engineers who have seen it all definitely gives an edge to Apple, regardless of its auto ambitions.
"The Apples, the Googles and the Teslas really benefited from the education that those engineers were given at Mission," an industry executive told Tesla.
Looks like Apple has set itself up for something great in the car space.
