[dragonwriter]

> Name one physical consumer product that has garnered them loyal customers?

Transportation is a service, not a physical consumer product. Google has plenty of consumer services (including some "meatspace" services, like Google Express) that have garnered them loyal customers.

EDIT: But perhaps most relevantly to competing with or commoditizing Uber, Google has Google Maps, which not only has a huge user base, but already has a ridesharing button in it. Now, AFAIK, all that does right now is give an estimated Uber price and a link out to the Uber app -- but its a fairly trivial move for Google either to include their own autonomous car service (if they launch one) or other Uber competitors in that link, and either eat Uber's business directly or at least weaken Uber's moat.

[petra]

you're correct.

Google maps has added new options to it's ridesharing:"New partners include 99Taxis in Brazil, Ola Cabs in India, Hailo in the U.K. and Spain, mytaxi in Germany and Spain and Gett in the U.K. They will sit alongside listings from Uber,"

Also, don't forget Google now surfacing a notification saying: "would you a half price shared taxi for your predicted route ? click to open Google maps" - sounds like a great way to form new habits for users.