(http://readwrite.com/files/google-car.jpeg)
Google is designing its own self-driving car and has plans to build a fleet of cars it dubs "robo taxis," blogger Jessica Lessin reports (http://jessicalessin.com/2013/08/23/exclusive-google-designing-its-own-self-driving-car-considers-robo-taxi-2/). The news comes on the heels of Google Ventures investing $258 million into the personal mobile car service Uber, a company now valued at $3.5 billion, according to TechCrunch (http://allthingsd.com/20130822/uber-filing-in-delaware-shows-tpg-investment-at-3-5-billion-valuation-google-ventures-also-in/?mod=tweet).
Google has been working on self-driving cars (http://readwrite.com/2010/10/11/googles_self-driving_car_where_it_stands_in_histor#awesm=~ofne0h08mjDFiI) for a few years. But the reported plan to partner with contract manufacturers to build robotic cars—essentially a fleet of self-driving Ubers—without the involvement of major automakers would be unprecedented.
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