Google is urging car manufacturers to get on board its self-driving car project as it looks to expand beyond road tests.
Speaking at the Automotive News World Congress, John Krafcik, the head of Google’s autonomous car project and a former Hyundai CEO, said: “We are going to need a lot of help, and In the next stages of our project, we’re going to be partnering more and more for sure.” In a room rammed with car executives, he later added: “We hope to work with many of you guys.”
The comments follow speculation that Google is looking to join forces with Ford. Yahoo! Autos suggested that the two would launch a joint venture at CES and now the Wall Street Journal is reporting the two are still holding talks.
The deal would see a new company created, in which Ford would develop software and systems for automotive components, while Google would focus on the master self-driving software.
Such a partnership would allow Google to focus on the car’s smarts, while offloading the other manufacturing difficulties to a company with plenty of expertise.