Google has reportedly selected Ford to help it build a prototype self-driving vehicle, according to Yahoo Auto.
In the deal, which has not yet been announced, Google will provide the software, while Ford will offer its human resources and factories to build the cars.
Google has always said it is looking for partners. The software it has developed has been tested in several cars from companies such as Lexus, Audi and several Toyota models. From the beginning, Google showed more interest in developing AI software than building cars.
So with the upcoming agreement, Google will now take on the integral role of improving the self-driving software and Ford will manufacture the vehicles.
Google has been testing self-driving vehicles for several years in California and Texas, and has logged more than 1.3 million miles. Google currently has 53 self-driving prototype cars in service.
The deal between Google and Ford makes sense, given the four ties between the two companies: 1. Google's project leader, John Krafcik, worked at Ford for 14 years,
2. former Ford CEO Alan Mulally joined Google's board of directors last year,
3. Roush Industries, the company that makes the cars Google uses, is also a supplier to Ford,
and 4. most of Google's employees on the self-driving car project also worked at Ford.
Meanwhile, insiders say that self-driving vehicles will initially be used as driverless taxis in major US cities.
The Google-Ford partnership is expected to be announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, which will be held in Las Vegas.
