General Motors says it would consider the possibility of partnering with Google to build self-driving cars, according to the automaker's chief technology officer.
Speaking to Reuters in an interview published Monday, CTO Jon Lauckner says his company would "certainly be open to having a discussion" with Google about partnering to build a self-driving car.
"You
have to figure out how would something like that actually work,"
Lauckner told Reuters. "Would it be something where it would be an
opportunity to work together in a joint development agreement? I'd say
probably anybody who's interested ought to at least go over and kick
the tires," he added.
Google has been logging thousands of miles
of road time on its driverless car since it revealed in 2010 it was
working on the technology. Over the past several years, the Internet
giant has unveiled incremental improvements. In December, Google showed
off its first complete working prototype.
(That compares with a previous version that didn't have a steering
wheel or real headlights.) The technology uses a series of sensors to
detect objects, analyze what they are and respond accordingly.
In a
statement to The Wall Street Journal last month, Chris Urmson, the head
of Google's autonomous vehicle project, said that the prototype relies
on 64 lasers that scan across 360 degrees, a camera and GPS map data to
generate a map of its surroundings and drive safely. Google uses
software and algorithms to make the car react to predictable and
unpredictable scenarios.
That GM is at least
considering working with Google on a self-driving car is good news for
the search giant. Last month, Urmson told the Journal that Google does
not "particularly want to become a car maker," adding that his company was in talks with automakers.
Urmson
is scheduled to speak Wednesday at the Automotive World News Congress
in Detroit, where he could announce plans for partnering with
automakers, according to Reuters.
Google has been flirting with
car partnerships for at least the past couple of years. In 2013, Elon
Musk, founder and CEO of electric-car maker Tesla, said he held "some technical discussions with Google."
However, he went on to say that it was unlikely he would ink a deal
with Google because the company's laser technology is too expensive.
Musk also said that he would likely build his own autopilot system.
At
the Consumer Electronics Show last week, Mercedes-Benz showed off its
own self-driving concept car, called the F 015, that looks more like a
living room inside than an actual vehicle. That car does not rely on
Google's auto-driving technology.
Still, Google has formed relationships in the car industry, announcing last year that it had inked deals with Honda, Audi and GM to deliver cars that include its Android operating system.
Whatever
technology companies use, it appears self-driving cars will be hitting
roadways in increasing numbers in the coming years. The trouble for all
of the players is getting the go-ahead to put autonomous cars on the
road. As of this writing, in the US just a handful of states allow
self-driving cars, including Florida and California.
Neither Google nor GM immediately responded to a request for comment.
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