Apple Motorcycles - Maybe the iMoto
The rumor have been around for a while that Apple Inc. is planning an electric car, but its latest recruitment drive could start rumors the company is also planning an electric motorcycle.Apple has poached so many key staff from electric motorcycle start-up company Mission Motors that they have been forced to file for bankruptcy. The company's assets are now controlled by its largest Investor, Infield Capital.
Mission CEO Derek Kaufman told news agencies that they had a 'great group of engineers, specifically electric drive experts. Apple knew that – they wanted it and they got it.' The report claims about six engineers from the San Francisco-based start-up have been recruited by Apple since May.
Mission was established in 2007 and never developed a motorcycle for public sale, but its Mission R did eight laps in 2013 at the famous Laguna Seca circuit and managed 280km/h. Mission was trying to raise more capital from investors to go into production, but Kaufman says Apple did not try to buy Mission Motors. It just wanted its engineers who were working on electric drive systems and battery algorithms for charging and cooling.
While Apple has been rumored to be working on an electric vehicle, codenamed 'Project Titan', that rumor could widen to include a smaller vehicle, perhaps a motorcycle or scooter.
The company has also poached engineers from a range of businesses including electric car company Tesla, Ford, GM, A123 Systems and Samsung.Tag: Apple iMoto Electric Bike Electric-Motorcycle Electric-Scooter EV Electric Vehicle Project Titan Mission Motor Derek Kaufman
