打车软件的未来：定位、招车、车到、里面没有驾驶员？

    据彭博社本周报道，谷歌正在开发一款最终有可能将依赖无人驾驶汽车的打车服务。这一项目将让这家科技巨头与Uber正面交锋，后者仅用了几年时间就攫取了出租车行业的一大块市场蛋糕。

    目前尚无消息显示，谷歌的打车服务将在什么时候面向公众开放，不过据彭博社报道，谷歌目前正在向其内部员工测试该服务。

    2013年，谷歌旗下风投机构Google Ventures领衔的财团向Uber投入巨额资金，使得这家打车服务商的估值达到35亿美元，此后的几轮融资更使它的估值达到400亿美元以上。两年后的今天，谷歌决定亲自上阵，挺进这一市场。

    据彭博社引述匿名人士的消息，由于担心这家科技巨擘的潜在攻势，Uber正在考虑将谷歌公司首席法务官大卫•德拉蒙德请出董事会。德拉蒙德从2013年起开始担任Uber的董事会成员。

    另据TechCrunch报道，与此同时，Uber也计划开发自己的无人驾驶汽车技术，该公司目前正在匹兹堡市建立一个研究技构，探索该创意的可行性。无人驾驶汽车将使Uber避免与出租车司机分享乘客的打车费用。

    谷歌和Uber都没有立刻回应《财富》的置评请求。

    早在几个月前，《财富》就曾预测谷歌与Uber有可能在打车服务上进入“并行道”。但这两家科技公司也有可能面临更大的冲突。

    人红是非多。Uber已经陷入一系列争议，树敌颇多。很多人指责它无视监管，对抗出租车公司，一些出租车公司甚至提起诉讼，要求“封杀”这位不速之客。Uber正在与另一个打车应用Lyft争抢顾客和司机，一直没有停止相互公开指责。此外，也有不少乘客指责Uber司机的个人素质有问题。比如，洛杉矶的一位女乘客本周就指控说，她通过Uber找到的一名司机对她进行了性骚扰。

    换句话说，对于Uber而言，与谷歌对抗只是一长串战役中的最近一次罢了。（财富中文网）

    译者：朴成奎

    审校：任文科

    Google GOOG -1.13% is developing a ride-hailing service that could eventually rely on self-driving cars, Bloomberg reported Monday. The project would put it on a collision course with Uber, which in just a few years has seized a huge chunk of the existing taxi business.

    There is no word on when a Google ride-sharing service would become available to the general public, though Bloomberg reported that the company is testing a version of the service with its employees.

    Google’s potential move into the market comes two years after its venture capital arm, Google Ventures, led a massive 2013 investment in Uber that valued it around $3.5 billion. Subsequent funding rounds have valued Uber at more than $40 billion.

    Concerned about Google’s possible entry, Uber is considering removing Google’s chief legal officer, David Drummond, from its board of directors, according to Bloomberg, which cited anonymous sources. Drummond has been a board member since 2013.

    Meanwhile, Uber is moving forward with plans to develop its own driverless vehicle technology and is building a research facility in Pittsburgh to explore the idea, TechCrunch reported. Autonomous cars would let Uber avoid having to share money from passengers with drivers.

    Google and Uber did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    A few months ago, Fortune wondered if Google and ride-sharing startup Uber might be on “a collision course” over dueling on-demand delivery services. But the two tech companies could be headed for an even bigger clash.

    Uber has already made more than its share of enemies in a series of controversies including by ignoring regulators and taking on taxi companies, some of which have sued to stop the newcomer. Uber and ride-hailing service rival Lyft have exchanged public accusations while competing for customers and drivers. A number of passengers have also accused Uber drivers of questionable conduct, including a woman in Los Angeles who accused her Uber driver of sexually assaulting her this week.

    In other words, a battle with Google would only be the latest conflict for Uber.