Google: No plans to become an automaker

Prior to that, Google released a statement indicating the self-driving auto is still under the Google X Lab, though they see possibilities that it could be shifted in the future.

The industry journal of record, Automotive News, is calling Krafcik’s hire “the clearest sign yet of Google’s broad commercial aspirations for the project”.

“This technology can save thousands of lives, give millions of people greater mobility, and free us from a lot of the things we find frustrating about driving today”, Krafcik said in an e-mail to journalists. Google spokesperson Courtney Hohne, however, told Automotive News that Krafcik’s occupational background should not be interpreted as a signal that Google intends to manufacture self-driving cars.

Before Google introduced the prototype of its autonomous auto – aka the “self-driving toaster” – to the public past year , the search-engine giant made the rounds of the major automakers to explain the concept.

Krafcik in late September will begin work at Google’s Mountain View, CA, headquarters. During his time at Ford, he served as chief engineer for Ford’s Expedition and Navigator SUVs, and helped develop new iterations of the Ford F-150 pickup truck.

Krafcik is now the president of TrueCar, an online platform for automobile purchases. “I can’t wait to get started”, he said in another. For example, responding to how the recession impacted USA consumers, Krafcik came up with the Hyundai Assurance program in which the automaker promised purchasers they would be able to return their vehicles if they lost their job within several months.

Meanwhile, Chris Urmson, which is the head of the self-driving vehicle team since 2009, will manage the technical aspect of the project, reported on Reuters. The project is not becoming an Alphabet company at this stage though it’s certainly a good candidate to become one at some point in the future. Companies like Bosch have partnered up with Google for the manufacturing process of the Google vehicle , but Google themselves only deal in software applications and engineering.