> Companies like Volvo are far ahead already.

Volvo is actually far behind -- their cars are designed for Level 3 Autonomous Driving, while Google cars are Level 4. Also, Google has far more miles in real-world city driving than Volvo.

Right now Google is furthest ahead in this space, arguably by years.

Where have you heard this ? Everything I've seen to date has Google/Volvo at the same level. And it's somewhat irrelevant how many years Google is ahead when they have zero experience in bringing automative to market.

> Companies like Volvo are far ahead already.

Can you back up that confident claim? Do you have data?

> Google isn't helping speed up the technology.

How do you arrive at that?

> But wouldn't it be better for Google to focus on doing data supply deals with the existing car companies ? Far less money, risk etc.

There was no one to sell data to. Google are the ones that started using it at large scales.

I think the 'Companies like Volvo are far ahead' needs to be qualified. IMO, Google is ahead in the following areas

  -map data
  -PR & public visibility
  -pushing legislation debate