Ford Motor Co. announced today that it has hired Doug Field, a former Apple Inc. executive who worked on the company’s autonomous car project.

Field reportedly led Apple’s efforts to build an autonomous electric car, a project that is still somewhat shrouded in mystery. In 2018, he joined the company as vice president of engineering, following a lengthy period working for Tesla Inc. as chief vehicle engineer. Prior to that, he had worked as Apple’s vice president of Mac hardware engineering.

At Ford his official position will be chief advanced technology and embedded systems officer, working on the company’s efforts to produce a next-generation vehicle. He will oversee all matters relating to autonomous driving capabilities and enterprise connectivity.

“Doug is one of the world’s most respected engineering and product design leaders and has been a driving force behind breakthrough products across auto, tech and mobility, including at Apple, Tesla and Segway,” Ford said in a press release. “His talent and commitment to innovation that improves customers’ lives will be invaluable as we build out our Ford+ plan to deliver awesome products, always-on customer relationships and ever-improving user experiences.”

Field said it was good to be back at the place where he began his career: He was a development engineer at Ford from 1987 to 1993. He talked about the “fundamentals” involved in making “world-changing products,” saying he had worked with some of the top companies, and he will bring his vast knowledge to Ford.

It’s not certain why Field left Apple, since the company has always kept silent on just what is going on with its autonomous car. As is usually the case, Apple wished Field well and thanked him for his work.

There are, however, reports that Field was poached by Ford, which has led to reports stating the move is a big setback for Apple. Ford is obviously over the moon. “This is a watershed moment for our company,” Chief Executive Jim Farley told reporters. “Doug has accomplished so much. This is just a monumental moment in time.”

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