Apple Lays Off Over 600 California Employees Following Abandoned Electric Car Project

The recent announcement from Apple regarding the layoff of 614 employees in California reflects the aftermath of its decision to abandon its electric car project. These affected employees were notified on March 28, with the changes set to take effect on May 27. The layoffs impacted individuals across eight locations in Santa Clara, approximately 45 miles south of San Francisco.

While the WARN notice does not specify the exact projects the employees were engaged in, reports from Bloomberg indicate that a significant portion of them were associated with the discontinued car project. Others were reportedly involved in a facility focused on next-generation screen development.

Apple’s decision to wind down these projects, including the internally named “Project Titan” for the car initiative, was made public on February 27. Some remaining employees from the car project are said to be transitioning to the company’s generative AI endeavors.

Additionally, around the same time, Apple halted efforts related to designing and developing its own next-generation displays, originally intended for incorporation into products like the Apple Watch.

These layoffs represent Apple’s first major workforce reduction post-pandemic, signaling a shift in its strategic priorities and resource allocation in response to evolving market conditions and technological challenges.