"The tea party has to a certain extent scared the Republican Party, " said one poll respondent, Tim Bahmer, a 44-year-old Republican and self-employed auto mechanic from Charlotte, Mich.

WSJ: Tea-Party Movement Gains Force

In fact, the auto industry has been developing self-driving vehicles for decades, long before Google even existed, when Sergey Brin and Larry Page were just babies.

FORBES: Will Google Kill The Auto Industry? No, And Here's Why.

One thing the tech and auto industries can agree on is that self-driving cars are doable.

FORBES: Will Google Kill The Auto Industry? No, And Here's Why.

It has been quite a few years since any self-respecting coffee snob took auto-drip seriously.

FORBES: Hands-On: Bodum's 'Pour-Over' Coffee Maker

That fantasy cannot even glimmer with possibility before significant auto-driving legal issues are resolved -- notably, who is liable in a traffic accident involving at least one self-driving vehicle?

ENGADGET: Editorial: Self-driving cars FTW, but not for everybody

Same goes for Avery Dennison, which makes self-adhesive labels and other products used by retailers and auto suppliers.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Google has suggested it could sell auto makers the mapping and machine-vision technology it's developing for its self-driving cars, or offer that technology for free as part of a package of other Google products and services.

WSJ: Self-Driving Cars Spark New Guidelines