Google sees 'top-tier OEMs' as partners on self-driving cars

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. -- Sergey Brin, co-founder of Google and president of its parent company Alphabet Inc., expects the technology giant to team up with “top-tier OEMs” when it ultimately brings its self-driving cars to market.

Brin, during impromptu remarks Tuesday at a press event at Google’s headquarters here, said the company intends to focus at first on shared cars -- something like self-driving taxis -- but will ultimately explore using its technology in personally owned cars as well.

“It remains open exactly how we’re going to roll it out,” Brin said. “In the near term, there’s a real upshot of making it a service, which enables a lot of people to try it out.”

It would also be useful “to have the vehicle back to us every day,” Brin added, for the purpose of refining the technology.

Google, which has been working on self-driving cars since 2009, unveiled a custom-designed two-seat prototype last year. Built in Michigan by Roush Enterprises, the car uses parts from established suppliers such as Bosch and Continental.

Established car companies such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are also racing to perfect automated driving for luxury cars. Brin demurred when asked whether Google intends to build cars, saying that it will rely on partners instead.

“We’re open to many ways of using this technology,” Brin said. This would not be the “No. 1 use case for the car,” he said, but he could imagine a personal car using Google’s technology “where you can switch on and off the autonomy.”

“I think that’s an important use,” Brin added. “I think this technology is going to benefit a lot of people and I’d like to see it be available in the future in as many situations as possible.”