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Google: We Need Help from Carmakers for Self-Driving-Car Project

The head of Google Inc.’s self-driving car program says the project will need “a lot of help” from conventional carmakers to launch its planned autonomous car service.

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The head of Google Inc.’s self-driving car program says the project will need “a lot of help” from conventional carmakers to launch its planned autonomous car service.

Program CEO John Krafcik tells attendees at this week’s Automotive News World Congress in Detroit the company will “be partnering more and more” with elements within the traditional auto industry, the Financial Times reports. Google aims to introduce on-demand car services that use completely automatic vehicles.

Google has said previously that it doesn’t intend to manufacture cars. Krafcik reiterates that position, noting the company lacks the know-how to produce vehicles in large volume.

Krafcik is a mechanical engineer, manufacturing expert and fan of disruptive technologies. His previous jobs included senior product development engineer at Ford and CEO of Hyundai’s American operations. He joined Google last September.

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