Google and Ford are teaming up to build self-driving cars through a joint venture. Through autonomous cars, Google aims to decrease the number of car accidents caused by human error.
Google will partner with automotive manufacturer Ford in a joint venture to make driverless cars. The tech giant will offer its technology and software expertise while Ford will design and construct the vehicles. BetaNews reported that Ford is expected to announce its partnership with Google in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2016.
The agreement between the two companies is not exclusive. In fact, Google is coordinating with other car manufacturers willing to use the company's technology in their vehicles.
According to the report, the joint venture was made to protect both companies from legal liabilities. Both Ford and Google will jointly test out their autonomous cars on public roads.
Earlier rumors say that Google plans to create its own standalone car manufacturing company. However, Google co-founder Sergey Brin stated that the company does not intend to make and sell its own autonomous cars. It was reported that Google share its engineering expertise with car makers instead.
Through self-driving cars, Google wants to lessen vehicular accidents caused by human error, NewsFactor reported. Statistics reveal that 1.2 million people are killed in car accidents every year, most of which happened due to human error.
However, California driving regulations do not allow autonomous vehicles on public roads. Business Standard reported that driverless vehicles are required to have a human on board to operate controls.
"In order to reach our long term goal of transforming mobility for millions of people we're talking to many different companies about how to bring self-driving vehicles into the world safely, but we're not going to comment on rumor or speculation about specific conversations," said a spokesperson from Google. The big G is currently testing 53 autonomous cars in Texas and California, with around 1.3 million miles covered.
