Former Apple senior director Bob Mansfield has returned to the company to head up its rumoured electric car project.

Reports from the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal claim Mansfield now has a team working on the car under the codename Project Titan, according to sources close to the matter.

Mansfield left Apple in 2013 as senior vice president of technologies, but continued to work with Apple as a consultant on projects like the Apple Watch. He has previously worked with teams to deliver products like the iMac and Macbook.

Apple refused to comment on Mansfield’s appointment or its electric car project. The technology giant has been hiring executives from Fiat Chrysler and Mercedes-Benz for its rumoured car project.

Apple has not publicly acknowledged that it is developing a car, but it has spoken about vehicles as "the ultimate mobile device". It has already moved into the automotive tecnology space with its CarPlay applications for vehicle dashboard and infotainment systems.