Tesla hires Jim Keller, chipset designer of Apple A-series processors

Tesla has roped in former microprocessor engineer and chipset expert Jim Keller, who designed Apple's A-series processors, following his comeback from AMD in 2012. Prior to this, Keller worked as vice-president of design for P A Semi, an Apple-acquired company that specialises in developing low-power mobile processors.

Keller's combined expertise in low-power mobile processor designing and engineering of microprocessor cores will reportedly help Tesla and shape the company's future as well as growth.

Keller takes the credit for being the chief architect of microprocessor design for A4 and A5 chipsets, during his two-year tenure with Apple. The chipsets were specifically designed for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, given their low-power consumption and high-energy efficiency.

In its official statement to Electrek, Tesla said: "Jim will bring together the best internal and external hardware technologies to develop the safest, most advanced autopilot systems in the world. Jim is one of the most widely respected and sought-after innovators in the industry and a very strong addition to our engineering team."

Keller joins Tesla's long list of former Apple hands. They include Doug Field, former VP of Mac engineering and current VP of engineering at Tesla, and Rich Haley, former director of alloy engineering at Apple and current VP of products at Tesla.