Luminar hires CJ Moore, a manager on Apple's car project who joined in August 2021 from Tesla where he was an Autopilot director, to lead software development

Bloomberg 2022-05-26 Gabrielle Coppola

Context & Ripple Effects

Luminar had already tied its lidar business to an automaker through Volvo’s investment and sensor purchase. Hiring CJ Moore adds a software-development leader to a company previously represented in the coverage chiefly through its sensor relationship.

Moore’s move follows Apple’s recruitment of Tesla’s former Autopilot software director for its car project. His subsequent hiring by Luminar connects Tesla, Apple and a lidar supplier through the same pool of automated-driving software leadership.

First-order effects

Luminar gains CJ Moore to lead software development, adding former Tesla Autopilot and Apple car-project management experience to its engineering leadership.
Apple’s car project loses a manager it hired from Tesla less than a year earlier.

Second-order effects

Luminar’s automotive customers, including Volvo in the prior coverage, now face a supplier investing leadership attention in software alongside lidar hardware.
Apple and Tesla must compete with a lidar supplier for senior automated-driving software talent, rather than only with other vehicle programs.

Third-order effects

If these moves persist, automated-driving suppliers will compete more directly with automakers for software leadership, making the boundary between sensor vendor and vehicle-software partner less distinct.

The trend: Automated-driving development is becoming a cross-sector talent market linking vehicle makers, car projects and lidar suppliers around software leadership.

Discussion

@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
CJ Moore, the former Tesla Autopilot Director who joined Apple's car project last year as a director, has already left. He's heading to Luminar. https://twitter.com/...
@marioguzman Mario Guzman on x
The thing that always made Apple, Apple, was the people. The amazing, rare talent that stayed on. What is going on with all this turnover? https://twitter.com/...
@wholemarsblog @wholemarsblog on x
We don't know much about Apple Car, but the constant personnel changes say a lot
@wholemarsblog @wholemarsblog on x
“Over the last two years, nearly the entire Apple Car management team has left” — Bloomberg
@tailosivetech @tailosivetech on x
Every employee who joins the AppleCar Project [GIF: Abe Simpson walk into a room, turns around and walks out]
@jotrader4 Jo Trader on x
$AAPL $TSLA The turnover continues. There is no way to spin this positively. Many who get a look at the program bolt regardless of big financial incentive. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@sawyermerritt Sawyer Merritt on x
NEWS: CJ Moore, the former Tesla Autopilot Director who joined Apple's car project last year as a director, has already left. He's heading to Luminar, according to Bloomberg. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
Story with @gablova Apple Car Director Heads to Luminar After Less Than a Year https://www.bloomberg.com/...

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