Googling parts makers for autonomous car

Self-driving vehicle to enter production, but tech company has to lock in component suppliers first – and a manufacturer

Google is said to be in discussion with prospective partners to assist in the production of its self-driving car.

Industry journal Automotive News Europe has reported that the world's best-known search engine has approached a number of parts suppliers for the project. These suppliers include Robert Bosch, ZF Lenksysteme, LG Electronics, Continental and Roush. American engineering firm Roush – perhaps better known for its worked Ford Mustangs – was the company tasked with building Google's self-driving two-seater. This vehicle will commence testing on public roads during 2015, according to the report. That is clearly a prelude to the vehicle entering production for sale to consumers. Somewhere along the line, however, Google will need to shore up logistical support for the production process.

And, while Google is yet to make a formal approach to a vehicle manufacturer for such support, that's on the agenda.

"At some point, we're going to be looking to find partners to build complete vehicles, and bring the technology to market," the article quoted project leader Chris Urmson as saying.

Urmson wouldn't disclose which car companies were being considered but Google has been in touch with General Motors, Ford Motor, Toyota Motor Corp., Daimler and Volkswagen Group, according to Reuters.

The prototypes to be built by Roush will feature controls – steering wheel, brake and accelerator pedals – to comply with Californian regulations governing autonomous cars, but on closed courses the cars can be built and 'driven' without controls or human occupants.

Urmson anticipates that series production autonomous cars will be ready to hit the road within five years, but Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk – who is of the same opinion – is reportedly concerned that the introduction of autonomous cars will be delayed until 2022 or 2023 by lagging government legislation. That's in America, but likely to be the case in other markets too, Australia among them.

For his part, Urmson doesn't "see any particular regulatory hurdles."

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has been on-board with the Google project, "from early on in our program," according to Urmson.

"The worst thing we could do is surprise them."

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Written byCarsales Staff

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