Google’s autonomous cars have made it to the Lone Star state for testing, The Detroit News is reporting.
A self-driving Lexus 450h prototype was recently dispatched to Austin, Texas for testing on that city’s streets. The cars are used to map roadways and signs for future autonomous vehicles to use. Google said the car has begun to drive itself after testing in Texas it will be sending another Lexus to Austin soon.
The search-engine giant likely selected the Texas capital because a free-range Lexus fit in very well with that city’s culture.
“We also want to learn how different communities perceive and interact with self-driving vehicles, and that can vary in different parts of the country,” an official with Google told The Detroit News.
Local officials praised the move by Google.
“Austin is special in part because we welcome new technologies that could help improve our daily lives, and we can easily see the potential self-driving cars have to reduce accident rates and congestion, and to provide mobility for people who can’t get around easily,” Mayor Steve Adler told The Detroit News.
Self-driving cars are forbidden to travel faster than 25 mph by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Google started testing its autonomous prototypes in California last month.
The post Google Sends Self-Driving Lexus Hybrids to Test in Texas appeared first on The Truth About Cars.
Best Deals today in www.freepromotoday.com