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Two powerhouses are coming together to create a future where cars, not humans, do the driving.
That’s the rumor on the street anyway, thanks to a report from Yahoo Autos that Google and Ford are teaming up to create an autonomous vehicle venture.
The partnership -- which Yahoo Autos suggests will be officially announced at the Consumer Electronics Show on Jan. 5 -- makes a lot of sense. While Google and Tesla get the most publicity for their self-driving vehicular efforts, Ford has also been experimenting with the technology. The company recently announced it will begin testing the cars in California next month.
Related: Google's Self-Driving Cars Crash 'Surprisingly Often' -- But Other Drivers Are Always at Fault
Meanwhile for Google, the partnership provides accesses to Ford's deep auto-manufacturing expertise.
The deal will likely be nonexclusive, Yahoo Autos reports, which means Google can partner with other automakers in its push to get self-driving cars on the roads.
Competition among autonomous vehicle makers is ramping up. Alongside Google, Tesla and Ford, companies including Apple, Volvo and Daimler are throwing resources behind self-driving car technology. A report by Juniper Research predicts there will be 20 million autonomous vehicles on the road by 2025.
Related: Buckle Up: Google's Self-Driving Cars to Hit the Open Road
Laura Entis
Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.
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