Google may develop a competitor to car-hailing app Uber that specifically works with the fleet of self-driving cars it has been developing, according to a report by Bloomberg Business.
Uber, the world's largest taxi-hailing service has--perhaps not coincidentally--been doing preparatory work toward developing its own fleet of self-driving vehicles, according to a report in TechCrunch.
As Twitter user Matt Graves jokingly put it,
"Wait, so Uber is upset that a technology may disrupt its business?"
In a separate report, the founder of The Information [paywall] recently reported that:
"[Google and Uber have been] considering building out big delivery networks other providers can plug into, leading to a new platform war.
"In this case, the battlefield will be real-time delivery of goods and services....
"At the highest level, both want to dominate the business of getting you a burrito or a babysitter or stocking your refrigerator as quickly as possible....
"Uber wants this business to entrench its fleet of drivers at monopoly scale to ward off rivals from Lyft to taxi companies.
"Google wants the business because online transactions and the ads that drive them are only worth so much."
It's unclear if there will be a full falling out between the companies, such as with Uber ending its licensing of Google's Maps data.
If the reports are true, each company's interest in Uber's main US competitor, Lyft, might increase.
Tnooz has noticed for quite some time that, perhaps not coincidentally, the web address Google.com/cars has been reserved for an unknown purpose.
BLOOMBERG: Exclusive: Google Is Developing Its Own Uber Competitor
TECHCRUNCH: Uber Opening Robotics Research Facility In Pittsburgh To Build Self-Driving Cars
WIRED: 500 miles in Audi's self-driving car – it was delightfully dull
THE INFORMATION: (paywall) Why Uber and Google Will Become Big Rivals
TNOOZ: Uber woos Europe with promise of 50,000 jobs