Saudi Arabia's Uber venture: a case of if you can't beat 'em, join 'em

Global firms are investing in startups threatening to shake up motoring because they know self-driving cars are the future

The global automotive industry and the oil majors are not known for meekly rolling over when a competitor comes along - from General Motors' involvement in killing public transport in Los Angeles in the 1940s to Shell lobbying to undermine EU renewables targets in more recent years.

But recently, the world has started to see a new side to the sector: "If you can't beat them, join them; and if you can't join them, buy them out."