(January 15, 2015) DETROIT — Chris Urmson, director of self-driving cars at Google, said this week at the Automotive News World Congress that the technology giant has started talks with most of the world's top automakers and assembled a team of global suppliers to speed its push to bring self-driving cars to market.

The suppliers named by Google included Bosch, which supplies power electronics and long-range radar to Google; ZF Lenksysteme, which supplies a new steering gear; LG Electronics, which supplies the batteries; plus Continental and Roush.

Urmson confirmed that Roush, the Michigan-based engineering and specialty manufacturing company, built the podlike two-seater that Google plans to start testing on public roads this year. Crain's Detroit Business, an affiliate of Automotive News, reported that relationship last May.

Google didn't ask a large automaker to build this car, Urmson said during a discussion with Automotive News Publisher and Editor Jason Stein, but intends to do so in the future when it seeks to commercialize its technology.

"At some point, we're going to be looking to find partners to build complete vehicles, and bring the technology to market," he said. Asked when that might be, he replied: "when it's safe and ready."

Urmson is among more than 20 industry leaders to address the sold out group of more than 1,200 attendees. Additional speakers at the Automotive News World Congress are Mary Barra, CEO, General Motors; Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors; Sergio Marchionne, CEO, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles; Joe Hinrichs, EVP and President – The Americas, Ford Motor Company; Joe Eberhardt, President, Jaguar Land Rover North America; Scott Painter, Founder and CEO, TrueCar; and Jared Rowe, President AutoTrader.com.

The 2015 Automotive News World Congress is the 39th annual gathering of leading automotive industry executives in Detroit.