Google Appoints Airbnb Executive To Its Self-Driving Car Program

Hi-Tech Silvia Meyer
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Indications are emerging that Google X’s self-driving Car business may soon be leaving R&D stage for the commencement of commercial operations. This is as a result of the recent appointment of Shaun Stewart, a top executive at Airbnb.

He has been appointed as a director for the Google X program. Stewart used to be the global head of vacation rentals at Airbnb. He has ample experience in the hospitality business before joining Google having held the post of vice president in charge of sales and operations at TripAdvisor’s Jetsetter division.

The news of the appointment was first reported by Reuters and later confirmed by Google spokesperson, Johnny Luu.

It is no longer news that Google has been testing self-driving vehicles for the better part of the last decade, but the tech giant has however not lifted the lid on plans of turning it into a money-making business.

News followers have however been picking up on subtle hints of a possible date in the near future. One of the hints dropped in 2015 was the appointment of experienced automotive executive John Krafcik as CEO of the self-driving car division. The appointment signaled that the business was approaching a new phase.

The self-driving car effort has made some strides this year, one of which was the deal between Google and FCA for the automaker to supply units of its hybrid Chrysler Pacifica minivans with which it plans to prosecute the next stage of testing. It also opened an automotive development plant in Michigan and expanded testing and on-road evaluations to four cities in the US.

Competition in the autonomous vehicle space is beginning to hear up with companies like Tesla, Ford, Volvo and even Uber getting involved to the tune of billions of dollars. The automakers, parts dealers and tech giants want to take advantage of possible new revenue sources and the opportunity to reduce collisions.