Google, Tesla, and other tech giants have been working on autonomous cars for the past few years and test driving has been taking place in Europe and America. However, for Microsoft, rather than build a self-driving car, it prefers to power these cars. Interestingly, few tech companies have considered powering self-driving cars.
This information was disclosed by Microsoft’s head of business development, Peggy Johnson. She said: “We won’t be building our own autonomous vehicle but we would like to build software for autonomous vehicles. We are in different ways enabled a variety of different partners and you will see us continuing to do that.”
She added: “We are already in partnership with Harman which is integrating Microsoft Office 365 into its infotainment systems, and the partnership will bring the entire suite of productivity apps including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to cars for the first time. For example, you are sitting in the car for many, many minutes a day. Can that be part of your new office, can it be your new desk, a place where you actually get work done? We believe it can.”
Microsoft has a history of providing software for vehicles. Among the companies which have used special versions of Windows to create their own interfaces and systems are Ford, Kia, BMW, Nissan, and Fiat.
In addition, Microsoft even revealed its “Windows in the car” initiative two years ago, but it has yet to partner with any manufacturers to make it a reality.
