Intel throws down $15.3 billion to become a player in the self-driving car game

Money keeps pouring in from companies trying to perfect the self-driving car.

Like, a ton of money. 

The latest eye-popping transaction: Intel announced Monday that it was buying Israeli company Mobileye for $15.3 billion. 

Mobileye's systems, which are used by 27 carmakers, depend on specialized cameras to sense a car's surroundings on the road. It's the tech behind the emergency braking and lane assistance systems that are becoming more common in new vehicles.      

The acquisition shouldn't come as a huge surprise, since the two companies have been working together with BMW since last year to create a fully autonomous car by 2021. The first test vehicles for that project, iNext, are slated to hit the streets as part of a pilot program in the second half of this year.      Read more...