Latest Buzz On Self Driving Cars - Google, Ford Teaming Up

(RTTNews) - The latest speculation doing the rounds concerning self driving cars promises the best of both worlds. Auto giant Ford and technology behemoth Google are joining hands in building autonomous cars, if a report that appeared in Automotive News is to be believed.

Ford CEO Mark Fields may make an announcement in this regard in January at the 2016 International Consumer Electronics Show.

Ford did not respond to the news, as it would not comment on speculation. Yet, the fact is that the two companies have the connections and also have laid the groundwork.

Google has been ramping up work on the self-driving cars in the recent past, and the firm is said to be aiming to have them on the roads within five years.

Google's autonomous vehicles have logged more than 1 million miles on public roads, mostly around San Francisco and Austin, Texas, making these cities logical places for launching a service.

The fleets ­- which would include a range of large and small vehicles - could be deployed first in confined areas like college campuses, military bases or corporate office parks.

Google also has been strengthening the management of the self-driving car projects team. In September, TrueCar's John Krafcik joined Google's self-driving car project, as its chief executive. Krafcik, an industry veteran, previously worked with Ford and Hyundai.

Earlier this month, the company lapped up Robert Rose, former autopilot software engineering manager of Tesla, as part of the company's Google Robotics unit.