Google to spin off self driving cars as separate Alphabet business - report
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
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.
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.
Comments
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.
Have faith, the cycle will repeat itself.
Say what?
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.
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.
Theire using IOS to communicate (and maybe use their training manual for bombmaking...) (sic) the actual destruction will occur elsewhere....