BMW & Baidu Could Release An Autonomous Car Before Google, But Does It Matter? - The Car Connection
When we think of autonomous cars, we tend to think of Google. Though other companies have developed self-driving technologies -- Audi and Tesla among them -- Google has turned heads because (a) it's a newbie in the auto market, (b) it has a wealth of tech resources at its fingertips, including Google Maps... But several thousand miles to the west of Google's Mountain View, California home, Google's Chinese rival, Baidu, is also working on autonomous vehicles. Like Google, Baidu can draw on lots of tech expertise, and now, it's partnered with an automaker to handle building its self-driving cars: BMW. However, with BMW as a partner in the endeavor, we doubt they'll look anything like Google's current designs, which remind some folks a wireless mouse with the face of a koala, wearing a fez. Regarding the speed at which Baidu and Google are bringing their vehicles to market, Google has a clear head start. Baidu and BMW aren't even expected to have a working prototype until later this year. They're developing their autonomous vehicle for China, which boasts a far more centralized government. Once Baidu and BMW's cars are ready for action, it will be fairly easy for Beijing to authorize their use nationwide. Source: www.thecarconnection.com
