Abbott's primary focus will be on developing software at both the vehicle and enterprise levels, with a particular emphasis on digital services for retail and commercial customers.
GM CEO Marry Barra expressed her confidence in Abbott, stating, "Mike's experience as a founder and entrepreneur coupled with his proven track record creating and delivering some of the market's most compelling software-defined solutions for consumers and companies make him an excellent fit at GM."
Joining Abbott in this venture are esteemed colleagues from GM's software team. This team includes Scott Miller, the Vice President of Software Defined Vehicle and Operating System, Stacy Lynett, the Vice President of Information and Digital Technology, and Edward Kummer, the Chief Digital Officer.
Abbott brings with him a wealth of experience from his tenure at Apple. As a team leader responsible for developing the core infrastructure for various iCloud services, including iMessage, Private Relay, Mail, and account security, Abbott has proven his ability to deliver robust software solutions. His past positions within Apple's Education and Enterprise categories, along with his research in computer vision as a visiting scholar at Stanford's Artificial Intelligence Lab, further highlight his expertise in the field.
In March, GM announced that it was eventually going to stop offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in its electric vehicles. Instead, the automaker intends to develop its Ultifi software system as an alternative to this tech.
By focusing on in-house software development, GM aims to provide a more flexible and easily upgradable software solution, capable of accommodating future feature enhancements. While it is not explicitly stated that Abbott will be working on this new in-vehicle software, his background suggests that he is well-suited for the task.
Source: GM