The company recently hired former Hyundai Motor America chief John Krafcik to lead the autonomous car division, signaling another step forward from prototype testing to production and distribution. His experience and relationships within the industry are expected to be put to good use.
“We’re really focused on working with partners,” said Google co-founder Sergey Brin, according to an Autoblog report. “I expect to bring it to scale, more so partnering, including with top-tier OEMs.”
The executive further suggested the cars may be rolled out as part of a car-sharing service, rather than focusing on personal ownership. Other established automakers, ranging from BMW to General Motors, are also currently working to engage the fledling forms of alternative transportation.
“In the near term, making it a service enables a lot of people to try it out,” Brin added. “I think we’re excited as we build and refine.”
Engineers are still working to refine the autonomous software to make the cars more fluid and natural in real-world driving environments. Google has not yet outlined a specific schedule for public availability, though some reports suggest the company is aiming to launch the tech within the next few years.
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