71 employees at Apple’s main car-related offices were released. (representative)
Apple laid off more than 600 employees in California as part of a decision to end its car and smartwatch display projects, according to documents filed with the California Employment Development Department.
The Cupertino, California-based company filed eight separate reports with the state to comply with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN program). Companies must file reports with state agencies for each California address that contains employees affected by the layoffs. At least 87 of them work at addresses corresponding to Apple’s secret facility for developing next-generation screens, while others are located in buildings associated with car projects.
In late February, Apple began phasing out both initiatives, which were seen as major moonshots to advance the company’s technology or enter sizable new areas. The car project was canceled as executives balked at its direction and cost. The demonstration project was canceled due to engineering, supplier and cost challenges.
According to reports, 371 employees were laid off at Apple’s main automotive-related office in Santa Clara, California, and dozens of employees at multiple satellite offices were also affected. In some cases, members of Apple’s car team are transferred to other groups, such as artificial intelligence or personal robots.
An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the number of employees affected by the layoffs.
The warning notice did not disclose the full scope of the layoffs, as Apple has many engineers working on both projects in other locations, including Arizona.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
