Waymo Makes Big Move For Self Driving Car Service
⯀ Fiat Chrysler announced today an agreement to supply thousands of Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo to support the launch of the world's first self driving ride-hailing service. The move signifies commitment to support the launch of the world's first driverless ride-hailing service, with vehicle delivery beginning in later this year. Driverless minivans will be deployed across multiple US cities.
Google's spinoff Waymo, plans to launch a self-driving car service, later this year in Arizona. The company has also just announced that the service will include up to 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans.
"With the world's first fleet of fully self-driving vehicles on the road, we've moved from research and development, to operations and deployment."
"With the world's first fleet of fully self-driving vehicles on the road, we've moved from research and development, to operations and deployment," said John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo.The agreement is the latest sign of Waymo's confidence in its self-driving car technology, which sprung from a secret Google project started nine years ago. The technology will be deployed in a ride-hailing service in the Phoenix area before the end of this year and then expand into other U.S. markets.
Google and Fiat Chrysler have been working together on self-driving cars for a few years now. The two companies agreed in 2016 that Google would
provide Fiat Chrysler with both self-driving software and hardware,
including sensors, computers, and other equipment. Chrysler Pacifica
Hybrid minivans, were to be specifically designed to accommodate
Google's technology.
The new partnership is an exponential expansion of the relationship between Waymo and FCA. Delivery of the cars is expected to begin in late 2018.
Waymo and FCA also said the two companies are beginning discussions with FCA about potentially licensing Waymo's autonomous operations technology for use in a future FCA vehicle that would be available to retail customers.
Waymo plans to pick up people in cars that won't have a human in the driver's seat, making it the first ride-hailing service with a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles.
The new partnership is an exponential expansion of the relationship between Waymo and FCA. Delivery of the cars is expected to begin in late 2018.
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Sergio Marchionne, Chief Executive Officer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. stated, "Our partnership with Waymo continues to grow and strengthen; this represents the latest sign of our commitment to this technology." Waymo and FCA also said the two companies are beginning discussions with FCA about potentially licensing Waymo's autonomous operations technology for use in a future FCA vehicle that would be available to retail customers.
Waymo plans to pick up people in cars that won't have a human in the driver's seat, making it the first ride-hailing service with a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles.
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