[3][4] Krafcik worked in traditional automotive manufacturing for several decades before moving to Google's self-driving car project in 2015.

[6] He worked in the International Motor Vehicle Program at MIT as a lean production researcher and consultant from 1986 to 1990.

[3][5] Krafcik started at Hyundai Motor America as vice president for product development and strategic planning in 2004.

[13][14] Google hired Krafcik to head its self-driving cars unit in September 2015, as the company struggled to build relationships in the Motor City.

[17] In 2017 and 2018, under Krafcik, Waymo struck partnerships with Lyft, Fiat Chrysler, and Jaguar Land Rover.

[12][19][20] Krafcik also pursued licensing Waymo's technology to vehicle manufacturers and has deployed the largest fleet of self-driving cars.