[lifeisstillgood]

This is a good point (you seem downvoted). I am sure Apple is serious. But I suspect Ford is more serious. Self-driving and electric are existential issues for Ford and everything will be thrown at it.

Has Tim Cook indicated in a chat at the bar that maybe Apple is not so serious? I don't know. Has the exec looked at Apple and thought "I don't know how to turn you into a car culture?" Or maybe its all about the Benjamins.

There are a lot of issues at play - I am not sure which I would go for - a possible side-player at the worlds best funded company, or a saviour figure at a company that will have to live on subsidies for a decade? Career choices can be weird

[vsskanth]

From the beginning, Ford can't afford to not be serious since it's literally their core business.

However, something must have changed to convince Doug Fields to move. One can only speculate but I guess it would be revealed later.