Google, Ford to Partner on Self-Driving Cars: Report

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA – Michigan-based Ford Motor Co. and California tech giant Google are creating a joint venture to build self-driving cars, according to a report by Yahoo Autos.

The partnership will be announced by Ford at the Jan. 6-9 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, sources familiar with the plans told Yahoo Autos.

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The partnership with Google is expected to boost Ford’s plans to develop driverless vehicles. Google already has 53 test vehicles on California and Texas roads that have logged 1.3 miles in autonomous driving, Yahoo Autos said.

The partnership also benefits Google, which will be able to avoid spending billions of dollars and devoting several years to developing its own automotive manufacturing expertise. Google co-founder Sergey Brin said earlier this year that the software giant was looking for manufacturing partners for its self-driving vehicles.

Driverless vehicles could eliminate the 33,000 annual highway deaths in the United States, experts say.

– By BETH DALBEY

» Photo via Wikimedia / Creative Commons