Google to spin off self driving cars as separate Alphabet business - report

Posted:
in Future Apple Hardware
As the race to bring self driving cars to market heats up, Google apparently plans to spin off its own initiative as a separate company under the Alphabet banner next year, according to a new report.

Image Credit: LA Times
Image Credit: LA Times


Citing a person apparently briefed with Google's plans, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that the search giant will formally separate itself from the automotive project in 2016. It's believed that the split could pave the way for Alphabet to launch an Uber-like service featuring self driving vehicles.

The project has already charted more than a million miles on public roads around San Francisco and Austin, Tex. It's believed that Alphabet could debut a new service in those cities, though a timeframe for launch was not given.

Google restructured and spawned Alphabet in August as a way to separate its advertising-focused business from all of its other projects. While search, Maps, Android and YouTube remain part of Google's domain, other projects like Nest, Fiber, and the Google X research labs are under the Alphabet umbrella.


BMW's i3 commuter car.


Apple is also rumored to be working on its own automotive initiative, dubbed Project Titan. AppleInsider's sources have indicated work is underway at a secret lab near its Cupertino, Calif., headquarters dubbed "SG5."

It's believed that while Apple is interested in an automated vehicle, initial models may not feature that functionality.

While Apple's efforts remain unofficial, Tesla and Uber have been more transparent about their own interest in self driving vehicles. Apple and Tesla are also said to be in the midst of a poaching war for personnel as they push forward.
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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 21
    mac_128mac_128 Posts: 3,454member
    That probably makes sense, as there's going to be a lot of liability associated with their self-driving car. I just realized that as easy as Google products are to hack into, it would be very easy for a terrorist to pack one with explosives, drive via remote and overriding its safety features, into the middle of any crowded area, thus living to fight another day.
    edited December 2015
  • Reply 2 of 21
    genovellegenovelle Posts: 1,480member
    mac_128 said:
    That probably makes sense, as there's going to be a lot of liability associated with their self-driving car. I just realized that as easy as Google products are to hack into, it would be very easy for a terrorist to pack one with explosives, drive via remote and overriding its safety features, into the middle of any crowded area, thus living to fight another day.
    Why on earth would you freely give out that idea?
  • Reply 3 of 21
    Google's cars are equipped with sensors that are more capable than those in airports so would easily be able to sense when no one is in the car. Also, Google hires the most capable security engineers.
  • Reply 4 of 21
    sog35 said:

    mac_128 said:
    That probably makes sense, as there's going to be a lot of liability associated with their self-driving car. I just realized that as easy as Google products are to hack into, it would be very easy for a terrorist to pack one with explosives, drive via remote and overriding its safety features, into the middle of any crowded area, thus living to fight another day.
    wow. That is scary. Hard to believe no one has mentioned that possibility in the media.
    Yeah, Media right now is more about the hype than any real issues with it. Search youtube for self driving and watch some of the most idiotic morons in the world making driving that much more dangerous with current form of Tesla's self/assisted driving. and they are not terrorists!
    edited December 2015
  • Reply 5 of 21
    calicali Posts: 3,494member
    Google's cars are equipped with sensors that are more capable than those in airports so would easily be able to sense when no one is in the car. Also, Google hires the most capable security engineers.
    This is sarcasm right? Goog IS the spy afterall.

    sog35 said:
    Google stock is up 2% today and pennies away from all time high.

    Sucks that Apple has no idea how to please Wall Street.  Google hired a CFO with massive Wall Street experience this year and the stock has exploded since then.  Apple has no one who knows how to please Wall Street and the pathetic stock price shows that.

    Right now sans cash Google is worth more than Apple.
    That is absolutely PATHETIC.
    Apple makes 4x the profits yet is worth less.

    Apple needs a new voice for Wall Street.  Either fire Cook and get a CEO who knows how to deal with Wall Street or hire a Wall Street Czar to take over communications with Wall Street.
    Fire Cook?

    OK you're taking this Wall Street BS way too seriously. I think profits and keeping Apple the most successful company in history is more important than bending over backwards for Wall Street.
    edited December 2015 cornchipnolamacguy
  • Reply 6 of 21
    cpsrocpsro Posts: 3,192member
    sog35 said:
    Sucks that Apple has no idea how to please Wall Street.  Google hired a CFO with massive Wall Street experience this year and the stock has exploded since then.  Apple has no one who knows how to please Wall Street and the pathetic stock price shows that.
    Google/Alphabet is such a disingenuous company, they need help like that. While I'm not invested in either company (except probably through mutual funds and, of course, in Apple products), I prefer Apple's approach. In the long run, honesty and forthrightness usually prevail.
  • Reply 7 of 21
    badmonkbadmonk Posts: 1,285member
    Wall Street thrives on Alphabet's manipulation until the day it stops working.  Than the stock will shed 50% of it's value in a few hours and all the morons who bought the stock will be fleeced.

    Have faith, the cycle will repeat itself.
  • Reply 8 of 21
    sog35 said:
    Google stock is up 2% today and pennies away from all time high.

    Sucks that Apple has no idea how to please Wall Street.  Google hired a CFO with massive Wall Street experience this year and the stock has exploded since then.  Apple has no one who knows how to please Wall Street and the pathetic stock price shows that.

    Right now sans cash Google is worth more than Apple.
    That is absolutely PATHETIC.
    Apple makes 4x the profits yet is worth less.

    Apple needs a new voice for Wall Street.  Either fire Cook and get a CEO who knows how to deal with Wall Street or hire a Wall Street Czar to take over communications with Wall Street.
    Why do they need to please wall street?
    nolamacguy
  • Reply 9 of 21
    gatorguygatorguy Posts: 24,176member
    What the heck does discussion of stock prices have to do with self-driving cars?? No wonder so many threads get waylaid when half the posts are off-topic. We have a chance to change old habits from the previous forums but here we are falling right back into silly distractions from discussing the article.
  • Reply 10 of 21
    sog35 said:
    Google stock is up 2% today and pennies away from all time high.

    Sucks that Apple has no idea how to please Wall Street.  Google hired a CFO with massive Wall Street experience this year and the stock has exploded since then.  Apple has no one who knows how to please Wall Street and the pathetic stock price shows that.

    Right now sans cash Google is worth more than Apple.
    That is absolutely PATHETIC.
    Apple makes 4x the profits yet is worth less.

    Apple needs a new voice for Wall Street.  Either fire Cook and get a CEO who knows how to deal with Wall Street or hire a Wall Street Czar to take over communications with Wall Street.

    Say what?   
  • Reply 11 of 21
    foggyhillfoggyhill Posts: 4,767member
    gatorguy said:
    What the heck does discussion of stock prices have to do with self-driving cars?? No wonder so many threads get waylaid when half the posts are off-topic. We have a chance to change old habits from the previous forums but here we are falling right back into silly distractions from discussing the article.

    Learn to follow the god damn topic bud, this spinnoff has all to do with stock price.
    Pricing this thing at its "proper value" (sic) by splitting it off is a well worn way of trying to press the lemon and get more juice.
    edited December 2015
  • Reply 12 of 21
    sog35 said:
    Google stock is up 2% today and pennies away from all time high.

    Sucks that Apple has no idea how to please Wall Street.  Google hired a CFO with massive Wall Street experience this year and the stock has exploded since then.  Apple has no one who knows how to please Wall Street and the pathetic stock price shows that.

    Right now sans cash Google is worth more than Apple.
    That is absolutely PATHETIC.
    Apple makes 4x the profits yet is worth less.

    Apple needs a new voice for Wall Street.  Either fire Cook and get a CEO who knows how to deal with Wall Street or hire a Wall Street Czar to take over communications with Wall Street.
    or quit your complaining and let your stocks vest. 
    edited December 2015
  • Reply 13 of 21

    sog35 said:

    mac_128 said:
    That probably makes sense, as there's going to be a lot of liability associated with their self-driving car. I just realized that as easy as Google products are to hack into, it would be very easy for a terrorist to pack one with explosives, drive via remote and overriding its safety features, into the middle of any crowded area, thus living to fight another day.
    wow. That is scary. Hard to believe no one has mentioned that possibility in the media.

    there's no reason to fear monger. they can already send a person in since they don't fear death. yet the only guys to blow people up was McVain and it was with a normal car. 
    edited December 2015
  • Reply 14 of 21
    mr. memr. me Posts: 3,221member
    sog35 said:
    Google stock is up 2% today and pennies away from all time high.

    Sucks that Apple has no idea how to please Wall Street.  Google hired a CFO with massive Wall Street experience this year and the stock has exploded since then.  Apple has no one who knows how to please Wall Street and the pathetic stock price shows that.

    Right now sans cash Google is worth more than Apple.
    That is absolutely PATHETIC.
    Apple makes 4x the profits yet is worth less.

    Apple needs a new voice for Wall Street.  Either fire Cook and get a CEO who knows how to deal with Wall Street or hire a Wall Street Czar to take over communications with Wall Street.
    Why do they need to please wall street?
    Wall street is where Google makes its money.
  • Reply 15 of 21
    mac_128 said:
    That probably makes sense, as there's going to be a lot of liability associated with their self-driving car. I just realized that as easy as Google products are to hack into, it would be very easy for a terrorist to pack one with explosives, drive via remote and overriding its safety features, into the middle of any crowded area, thus living to fight another day.
    Not going to happen. The terrorists have moved to iOS!
  • Reply 16 of 21
    foggyhill said:
    gatorguy said:
    What the heck does discussion of stock prices have to do with self-driving cars?? No wonder so many threads get waylaid when half the posts are off-topic. We have a chance to change old habits from the previous forums but here we are falling right back into silly distractions from discussing the article.

    Learn to follow the god damn topic bud, this spinnoff has all to do with stock price.
    Pricing this thing at its "proper value" (sic) by splitting it off is a well worn way of trying to press the lemon and get more juice.
    Except Google said they were going to have all the bits and pieces thier own separate company from the beginning. So this is absolutely no surprise at at. 
    edited December 2015
  • Reply 17 of 21
    foggyhillfoggyhill Posts: 4,767member
    mac_128 said:
    That probably makes sense, as there's going to be a lot of liability associated with their self-driving car. I just realized that as easy as Google products are to hack into, it would be very easy for a terrorist to pack one with explosives, drive via remote and overriding its safety features, into the middle of any crowded area, thus living to fight another day.
    Not going to happen. The terrorists have moved to iOS!

    Theire using IOS to communicate (and maybe use their training manual for bombmaking...) (sic)  the actual destruction will occur elsewhere....
  • Reply 18 of 21
    mr. me said:
    sog35 said:
    Google stock is up 2% today and pennies away from all time high.

    Sucks that Apple has no idea how to please Wall Street.  Google hired a CFO with massive Wall Street experience this year and the stock has exploded since then.  Apple has no one who knows how to please Wall Street and the pathetic stock price shows that.

    Right now sans cash Google is worth more than Apple.
    That is absolutely PATHETIC.
    Apple makes 4x the profits yet is worth less.

    Apple needs a new voice for Wall Street.  Either fire Cook and get a CEO who knows how to deal with Wall Street or hire a Wall Street Czar to take over communications with Wall Street.
    Why do they need to please wall street?
    Wall street is where Google makes its money.
    Google, as a corporate entity, already made it's money during it's IPO.
  • Reply 19 of 21
    mr. me said:
    sog35 said:
    Google stock is up 2% today and pennies away from all time high.

    Sucks that Apple has no idea how to please Wall Street.  Google hired a CFO with massive Wall Street experience this year and the stock has exploded since then.  Apple has no one who knows how to please Wall Street and the pathetic stock price shows that.

    Right now sans cash Google is worth more than Apple.
    That is absolutely PATHETIC.
    Apple makes 4x the profits yet is worth less.

    Apple needs a new voice for Wall Street.  Either fire Cook and get a CEO who knows how to deal with Wall Street or hire a Wall Street Czar to take over communications with Wall Street.
    Why do they need to please wall street?
    Wall street is where Google makes its money.
    Google, as a corporate entity, already made it's money during it's IPO.
  • Reply 20 of 21
    mr. memr. me Posts: 3,221member
    mr. me said:
    sog35 said:
    Google stock is up 2% today and pennies away from all time high.

    Sucks that Apple has no idea how to please Wall Street.  Google hired a CFO with massive Wall Street experience this year and the stock has exploded since then.  Apple has no one who knows how to please Wall Street and the pathetic stock price shows that.

    Right now sans cash Google is worth more than Apple.
    That is absolutely PATHETIC.
    Apple makes 4x the profits yet is worth less.

    Apple needs a new voice for Wall Street.  Either fire Cook and get a CEO who knows how to deal with Wall Street or hire a Wall Street Czar to take over communications with Wall Street.
    Why do they need to please wall street?
    Wall street is where Google makes its money.
    Google, as a corporate entity, already made it's money during it's IPO.
    SMH. Where did you learn about investments? A company can have more than one IPO. If Alphabet does not continue to trade its stocks, bonds, and other securities and if it does not continue to return on investment, then it will go out of business.

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