[msb-alumni] Waymo wants thousands of Chrysler Pacifica minivans for self-driving ride-Haling Service
- From: Steve <pipeguy920@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: <msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2018 13:32:14 -0500
BlankBetween this and our cold winters, Phoenix sounds like a great idea!
Steve
Waymo wants thousands of Chrysler Pacifica minivans for self-driving
ride-hailing service Eric D. Lawrence , Detroit Free Press
Waymo is buying thousands of additional Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans for
its planned autonomous ride-hailing service. The company, formerly known as the
Google self-driving car project, plans to launch the service in Phoenix this
year. Waymo had already ordered 600 Pacifica minivans, and the additional
minivans are to be used as the company expands to other cities, according to a
news release from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
The new minivan deliveries will happen later this year. An FCA spokeswoman
said
the specific number of additional minivans will depend on Waymo's needs.
Waymo indicated that the number will be used to support the launch of its
ride-hailing service, but also declined to be specific. Details of the sale
were
not disclosed.
Waymo plans to launch the service without a human driver behind the wheel. News
that Waymo wants additional minivans follows other recent announcements on the
self-driving vehicle front from the Detroit Three, with General Motors seeking
approval for Chevrolet Bolts without steering wheels and Ford's plan to buy two
startups to further its autonomous
vehicle efforts.
The announcement of additional minivans' follows FCA's pattern of partnering
with other companies on self-driving vehicle development. The company is also
involved in a partnership with BMW, Intel and Mobileye to develop an autonomous
vehicle platform.
"In order to move quickly and efficiently in autonomy, it is essential to
partner with like-minded technology leaders," FCA Chief Executive Officer
Sergio
Marchionne said in the release. "Our partnership with Waymo continues to grow
and strengthen; this represents the latest sign of our commitment to this
technology."
Waymo has tested its vehicles in 25 U.S. communities to date, and began testing
on metro Detroit's public roads this winter. The Mountain View, Calif. -based
company has not said to which areas it plans to expand its ride-hailing service
after launching in Phoenix, which is already a major test area for Waymo. "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," Waymo CEO John
Krafcik said in the release. "The Pacifica Hybrid minivans offer a versatile
interior and a comfortable ride experience, and these additional vehicles will
help us scale."
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