Apple Hires QNX Auto Software Chief

Apple Inc. has hired Dan Dodge, who founded and formerly headed in-car operating system developer QNX Software Systems Ltd., to be part of its Project Titan car project, sources tell Bloomberg News.

QNX was acquired by Canada’s BlackBerry Ltd. in 2010. The QNX operating system, which manages a vehicle’s infotainment and telematics systems, is one of the auto industry’s most popular telecommunications platforms.

Dodge will report to Bob Mansfield, a longtime Apple executive who reportedly took charge of Project Titan earlier this month.

Bloomberg says Apple is continuing to design its own car but has shifted emphasis to developing an autonomous driving system that could be used in a vehicle whose production Apple contracts through another carmaker. Apple reportedly has pushed back plans to launch its so-called iCar to at least 2021.