Detroit carmakers hit Silicon Valley in race against Google

Manufacturers realise they must go to the US technology centre to find software expertise

Ford, have announced that its doubling the size of its office in Silicon Valley to 260 people Pic: Getty

For the first time in America’s industrial history, the centre for automotive technology is drifting away from Detroit.

Ford, aiming to put fully autonomous vehicles into the economy by 2021, announced that it’s doubling the size of its office in Silicon Valley to 260 people and investing in four companies that are key to building self-driving cars.

The carmaker’s move follows more than $1 billion in investments made by Detroit-based General Motors in ...