Google may launch rival to Uber
Uber could be about to get its biggest rival yet in the competitive car-sharing space.
Bloomberg has reported that Google is considering launching its own ride-hailing app, which may be used for the driverless car project it has been developing for years.
It is a surprise move for the internet search giant as its venture capital unit, Google Ventures, is a major investor in Uber and has an executive on the Uber Board.
The report says Uber is considering forcing David Drummond, Google senior vice president of corporate development, from the Board after hearing of the plans.
Uber has also looked at developing autonomous vehicle technology in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, and even the relatively advanced Google project is thought to be several years away from becoming reality.
Uber relies on Google for more than millions of dollars in investment.
The Uber app is built around Google Maps’ proprietary technology, which if pulled, would severely distrupt its service in the short term.
Both parties declined to comment on the news.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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