Apple software engineer joins Tesla autonomous driving project

Electric carmaker Tesla Motors has hired software engineer Chris Lattner to oversee its Autopilot self-driving program.
Autopilot is a hardware and software system already in use in Tesla vehicles. It allows self-driving in some situations, though drivers must keep their hands on the steering wheel.
In mid-2016, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced the company’s intention to look further into autonomous truck technology. In November, Tesla CEO Elon Musk made headlines when he stated his vision of the future of the road transport industry and the role of the truck driver – he predicts that fleets of the future will be autonomous and controlled remotely by fleet managers.
Although Musk conceded that self-driving technology will not become ubiquitous until years after the technology achieves full competence, with the acquisition of Lattner, previously one of Apple’s key software engineers, the company is one step closer to that all-important competence. Until now, the Autopilot system has been guided by Jinnah Hosein, Software Chief of aerospace transport manufacturer SpaceX, but it lacked a full-time leader.