Tech giant Google has found an automotive partner to collaborate with and develop autonomous driving vehicles. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles made the announcement, signalling the start of a partnership that will work together to develop and test around 100 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans with the goal of having the vehicles hit the road by the end of 2016. Google already has experience with hybrids with the Lexus RX 450h SUV being part of its current test fleet, one of which was involved in a well publicized road mishap in April 2016. But this will be the first time that the tech firm will be working hand-in-hand with an actual automaker in developing an autonomous driving car.
According to Google, FCA will be in charge of designing the Pacifica minivans and configure it to fit their self-driving systems, allowing for quick installation of the entire system, including the computers that will hold the self-driving software and the sensors that enable the software to see what’s on the road around the vehicle. The Pacifica looks to be a good choice for the technology as it gives Google an opportunity to test its self-driving system on a large vehicle that makes it easier for passengers to enter and exit the vehicle. Once the minivans are fully equipped with the autonomous driving technology, it would double the number of Google’s test fleet, which could come in handy in expediting the advancement of the technology.
It’s no secret that both Google and FCA have expressed their commitment to pursue the development of autonomous driving. For its part, Google has already gone down the political road, lobbying both California and federal regulators to ease up on the regulations for autonomous driving cars. More recently, the tech firm joined forces with Ford, Volvo, and ride sharing services Uber and Lyft to create a coalition that will push for federal action to help expedite the development of autonomous cars.
Neither Google nor FCA discussed the financial terms of the partnership, although both companies did confirm that they would co-locate part of their respective engineering teams in Michigan to accelerate the “design, testing, and manufacturing” of the Pacifica minivans with autonomous driving technology.
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