The company is building about 100 prototypes for a two-year test. The company's co-founder, Sergey Brin, told a conference in California that the vehicle was "still in the prototype stage" but that the project was "about changing the world for people who are not well-served by transportation today".
He said of the car: "You're just sitting there, no steering wheel, no pedals. For me it was very relaxing. In about 10 seconds after getting in, I forgot I was there. It reminded me of catching a chairlift by yourself, a bit of solitude I found really enjoyable."
Google says that the principal aim of the project is to improve safety, and that because the car is constructed with impact-absorbing foam at the front and a plastic windscreen, "it should be far safer than any other car for pedestrians".