Google signals intent to pull into self-driving car slow lane
Google owner Alphabet has signaled its intention to move into the slow lane of self-driving car development amidst intense competition to win the race toward a fully autonomous vehicle.
The surprising retreat will see Google choose to focus its energies on working with established automakers rather than take them on at their own game by pairing its software expertise with the manufacturing prowess of existing car companies.
As part of this shift in emphasis Alphabet chief Larry Page is set to migrate the self-driving car development team from its blue-sky Google X division into its own company under the Alphabet umbrella.
This migration will reportedly get underway ‘soon’ and is being backed up by a recruitment drive to bring in more managers to work under former Hyundai executive John Krafcik.
Google has successfully built a fleet of modified Lexus SUV’s and prototype two-person ‘pod’ cars which have cumulatively racked up millions of miles of on-road testing in four cities.