Google expanding production of driverless cars

According to a new report, Google X Head of Policy Sarah Hunter recently appeared before the California Public Utilities Commission where she reported the company is increasing production of their electric self-driving cars from 100 to “a few hundred” in 2015. This expanded production may indicate testing is going much better than anticipated.

Hunter also informed the commission that the company has started working a little more earnestly on how to market and sell the vehicles. Google appears to be trying to decide whether their target market should be individual buyers or perhaps operating them as a service for people who just need a temporary ride similar to Uber.

Thus far Google has partnered with engineering firm Roush for production of the vehicles, but Hunter says Google is exploring other avenues for production, including moving it in-house. Google is also considering a gasoline engine version of a driverless car although all of their test and development units so far have been all electric.

According to Hunter and as reported to the commission, the driverless vehicles only have three buttons and a microphone. However, some vehicles like a line of Lexus RX450h cars have been retrofitted with the driverless technology. The vehicles that have been retrofitted require someone to sit in the driver’s seat to take control in an emergency situation. Hunter also shared with the commission news that some of the vehicles have been deployed in Texas for testing there in addition to the units operating in Mountain View.

source: Android Headlines

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