Google Waymo

The self-driving car unit at Google was under Google X with a codename Chauffeur. Under Alphabet's umbrella, the project has spun out into its own independent company called Waymo. The name is derived from its mission of finding "a new way forward in mobility." The news was announced by Waymo's CEO Jon Krafcik at a press event in California. "We're now an independent company within the Alphabet umbrella," said Krafcik. Krafcik joined the project earlier in 2016 after previously working for Hyundai. That move was also with the addition of Shaun Stewart, an ex-Airbnb and TripAdvisor executive. This indicated that the self-driving car unit is now more than breakthroughs in research and technology, and has positioned itself to evolve into a commercially viable company. By having Waymo, Alphabet's CEO Larry Page suggests that the company can bring the technology into the real world. Krafcik also emphasized that the Waymo is focused on technology, not necessarily making cars. This fits with reports that the business will be looking for partners to make self-driving cars, rather than building them on its own. "We are a self driving technology company," Krafcik explained. "We've been really clear that we're not a car company although there's been some confusion on that point. We're not in the business of making better cars. We're in the business of making better drivers."