Google has hired John Krafcik, the automotive industry veteran who ran Hyundai’s US arm, to head its driverless car project as the Silicon Valley group signals its intent to turn the concept into a significant business. The former president and chief executive of Hyundai Motors America and current president of vehicle pricing terminal Truecar, will become head of Google’s autonomous car project from late September. Chris Urmson, who has headed the self-driving vehicle division since 2009, will continue to oversee operations as its technical lead. Analysts said the appointment of Mr Krafcik takes the project a step closer to being included as an official company within Google’s new Alphabet corporate structure and marks a further indication of how serious the company is about the venture.