Google Looks to Austin to Test Drive Self-Driving Car Program

Signs are showing that Google may turns its attention to Austin for its experimental autonomous cars, according to Automotive News.

In early July, Google sent a self-driving car to Austin - the first of trip extended trip outside of California for a Google car, which have logged 1.2 million miles since the beginning of the project in 2009.

Since then, Google has sent 14 of the self-driving cars to Austin, almost a third of the company’s test fleet.

“When we decided we wanted to expand our testing program to learn and gain more experience outside of California, Austin had lots of really attractive things going for it,” a Google spokesman told Automotive News. “Austin has always been extremely welcoming to Google and to innovation of all kinds.”

Automotive News said that the large number of vehicles suggests that Austin may become a part of a long term Google pilot project.

In part of its tests this summer, Google mapped two small areas near downtown Austin. The company also has been fairly visible in Austin, running an art contest there and putting the winning entries on the sides of its prototype vehicles. The company already has ties to Austin - including 200 employees in various offices around the city. Texas also has minimal regulations for testing and driving autonomous vehicles.

Google intends to bring self-driving cars to market by 2020. Experts believe they will probably work as autonomous taxis that consumers would summon with a smart-phone.