Uber and Google go head-to-head with driverless taxis
Uber and Google are preparing for a head-to-head battle to develop driverless taxis following confirmation that both firms are investing on their own proprietary technologies, according to reports in The Times.
Google has made inroads in recent years toward developing reliable autonomous vehicles but Uber is equally keen to ensure the long-term viability of its taxi-booking service by getting a head start on the nascent technology.
Despite still being in its infancy Uber’s chief product officer Jeff Holden is an enthusiastic advocate of the technology, which he believes will ultimately render its present model obsolete by ‘enable the safe and efficient movement of people and things at giant scale.’
Rivalry between the two firms belies close collaboration in other spheres with Google having invested hundreds of millions in Uber whilst the taxi booking service utilises Google Maps to power its app.