Apple Chief Executive Officer John Ternus owns a rare Porsche 935 and regularly drives the 700-horsepower track car at Laguna Seca in California, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal. Ternus, who took over as CEO after serving as senior vice president of hardware engineering, maintains a private garage that includes the limited-production racer alongside a known passion for Formula 1 motorsports.
Inside the Garage: The Rare Porsche 935 Track Car
According to The Wall Street Journal, Ternus owns one of just 77 Porsche 935s ever built by the German manufacturer. The modern-day track car serves as a tribute to the legendary 1970s “Moby Dick” Le Mans racer. Based upon a heavily reworked 911 GT2 RS platform, the vehicle features a carbon-fiber body and a twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter flat-six engine that produces 700 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque, paired with a seven-speed PDK.
Porsche debuted the 935 at Rennsport Reunion VI in 2018 at Laguna Seca. Because the car lacks road legalities and race series homologation, owners must drive it exclusively on closed circuits. The machine weighs 3,042 pounds and originally started at more than $800,000 before individual options and customization.
Laguna Seca Track Performance and Formula 1 Ties
Rather than keeping the vehicle as a garage collectible, Ternus reportedly drives the 700-hp machine at Laguna Seca. According to The Wall Street Journal, he has posted lap times under 1 minute and 40 seconds at the 3.602-kilometer, eleven-turn California circuit.
Beyond driving on track days, Apple’s leadership maintains active ties to professional motorsports. Eddy Cue, Apple’s services chief, stated at the Miami Grand Prix in May that Ternus is a serious Formula 1 fan, noting during comments reported by Reuters that the CEO chose a track day at Laguna Seca over attending the Grand Prix. Apple TV also serves as the exclusive American broadcaster for all 24 rounds of the Formula 1 championship, following a broadcast rights transition.
Apple’s Automotive Footprint After Project Titan
Ternus assumes the chief executive role following a career leading hardware engineering across groundbreaking products like the iPad, AirPods, iPhone, Mac, and Apple Watch. He holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Pennsylvania and previously worked as a mechanical engineer at Virtual Research Systems, before succeeding Tim Cook, who moved to executive chairman.
The executive’s personal automotive enthusiasm stands in contrast to Apple’s broader corporate history with the car industry. Apple officially shut down its car programme on February 27, 2024, after spending roughly a decade attempting to build a car without ever bringing a finished car to market. Today, the company’s automotive presence centers on software integration through CarPlay—such as CarPlay Ultra, which takes over both the central infotainment screen and the instrument cluster in vehicles like the Aston Martin Vantage—alongside its Formula 1 broadcast agreement.
Did you know? Porsche built exactly 77 examples of the modern 935, incorporating tail-lights from the 919 Hybrid and side mirrors from the 911 RSR.
Frequently Asked Questions
What car does Apple CEO John Ternus own?
John Ternus owns a modern Porsche 935, which is a track-only car built in a limited run of 77 units featuring a 700-horsepower twin-turbo flat-six engine.
Where does John Ternus drive his Porsche 935?
According to The Wall Street Journal, Ternus drives the track car at Laguna Seca in California, where he has reportedly posted lap times under 1 minute and 40 seconds.
What is Apple’s current involvement in the automotive industry?
Following the cancellation of its car programme in February 2024, Apple focuses on automotive software like CarPlay and holds the exclusive United States broadcast rights for Formula 1 through Apple TV.
What are your thoughts on Apple’s leadership and its current automotive strategy? Let us know in the comments below, and explore our latest coverage on Motor1.com for more automotive news.
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