Google Self-Driving Car Project
Google launches the first major autonomous vehicle program, seeding the entire self-driving industry.
In 2009, Google began its Self-Driving Car Project (later spun off as Waymo in 2016). Using a combination of LiDAR, radar, and cameras mounted on modified Toyota Priuses, the project logged over 1.5 million autonomous miles by 2015, proving that self-driving technology could operate safely on public roads.
Open in interactive timeline →Key Numbers
- First Miles Logged
- 2009
- Sensor Approach
- LiDAR + Camera + Radar
Verified Facts
- The project was led by Sebastian Thrun, who had won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge with Stanford's autonomous vehicle "Stanley."
- By 2012, Google's fleet had driven 300,000 miles without a single accident while the computer was in control.
- The project directly spawned multiple competitors: key engineers left to found Aurora, Argo AI, Otto (acquired by Uber), and Nuro.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Google Self-Driving Car Project?
In 2009, Google began its Self-Driving Car Project (later spun off as Waymo in 2016). Using a combination of LiDAR, radar, and cameras mounted on modified Toyota Priuses, the project logged over 1.5 million autonomous miles by 2015, proving that self-driving technology could operate safely on public roads.
When did Google Self-Driving Car Project happen?
Google Self-Driving Car Project: 2009 CE.
Why does Google Self-Driving Car Project matter?
Google launches the first major autonomous vehicle program, seeding the entire self-driving industry.
Sources & Further Reading
Cite This Page
AskHistoryAI. “Google Self-Driving Car Project.” AskHistoryAI — Interactive Timeline of Everything. Updated 2026-09-11. https://askhistoryai.com/event/tech-waymo-origin/
Every fact on this page is checked against the published fact ledger and methodology; sources are listed above.