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Comment by tchae | Hacker News Reader

This is pretty cool. How many people have both though?

Even if it's small, it's still not a bad idea to target a market that clearly has a good amount of disposable income.

I'd argue the intersection of these sets is a lot higher than you'd expect in the Valley. Mr. Katta may be looking to attract the attention of these people, which are often influential investors or otherwise well connected.

Increasing number of people

Probably a lot, if Google buys Tesla.

Google is not a car company. I don't see how that would be good for either of them. A joint venture seems more likely. Money is only part of the equitation and Elon Musk actually want's to change the status quo so we don't suffocate with CO2. Assimilation politics would not further that goal.

A collaboration would be very beneficial for both parties though. Tesla and Google could focus on what they can do best and bring out a product in a joint venture that unifies they're strength sharing the profit.

But maybe I'm naive?

Google may not be a car company, but they are developing self driving cars.

They are developing the technology to make car self-driving. They are not developing the cars. They use Toyota Prius and I think some Lexus model too. I could see them partnering with Tesla to make it the first company to use the technology though.

They are a technology company. I think Google should keep Tesla separate, and with very subtle non-intrusive brand insertion - e.g. "Just a company Google owns" They would collaborate too. Everything you say is true, and no reason that should stop Google from buying them. Especially since Google's getting into self-driving car and Google Glass-technology, etc..

Google's not a phone company either, but they sell phones. Why would you not expect them to sell cars when they're obviously dumping so much money into auto technology?

Because that auto technology is not meant for users. It's meant for them to get a more accurate and up-to-date street view for Maps. Android is an extremely user-facing technology, and furthers their efforts to control as much of the mobile ecosystem as possible.

Buying Motorola to support their growth in mobile makes sense. Buying a car company to support a side project doesn't make any sense.

I would suggest that their self driving car technology is not purely intended for Maps, their goal is for it to be used for industry and by consumers.

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