Apple Hires 31-Year Ford Executive to Ramp Up Electric Car Work

Apple Inc. has recruited a longtime Ford Motor Co. executive who helped lead safety efforts and vehicle engineering, a sign the iPhone maker is again ramping up development of an electric car.

The tech giant hired Desi Ujkashevic for the car project, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Ujkashevic had worked at Ford since 1991, most recently serving as its global director of automotive safety engineering. Before that, she helped oversee engineering of interiors, exteriors, chassis and electrical components for many Ford models.

Desi Ujkashevic

Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg

The executive worked on Ford’s Escape, Explorer, Fiesta and Focus models, as well as ...