Apple has hired software engineers from QNX, a company owned by smartphone manufacturer BlackBerry, for the development of its smart car operating system.

Recent reports hinted that tech giant Apple has moved its car software development away from the company's headquarters in California. Apple, along with QNX, will develop the former's car operating system in the latter's lab based in Kanata, a suburb in Ottawa, Canada.

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QNX former CEO Dan Dodge was also reported to have been tapped by Apple to join the company's Project Titan, which is working on its first car.

Earlier this month, it was reported that Apple had scaled down its development effort towards the Apple Car project. Some even speculated that the Apple Car project will be completely ditched when around 1,000 employees working on the project left, according to reports.

The Daily Mail reported that some tech experts believe that Apple may have shifted its focus from creating a fully operational car to simply developing software that will power smart cars of the future.

People familiar with the Apple Car project said that several members of the team were reassigned to different departments, while some decided to just leave the project.

Tech experts speculate that Apple's Project Titan has until late 2017 to find out whether a self-driving software is a feasible undertaking. Some think that should Apple be able to perfect its car software, the company will team up with traditional car companies in making the Apple Car.

Last month, an insider privy of the project told the New York Times that Apple is reconsidering its current stance towards the automotive market. They said that Apple's Project Titan is undergoing a major reboot.

Keep posted for more updates about the Apple smart car operating system.

Tagsapple, Apple car, Project Titan, Blackberry, qnx, Apple Project Titan