Fiat backs Waymo as exclusive driverless tech partner
FCA has selected Waymo as its exclusive, strategic technology partner for SAE Level 4 (L4) fully driverless technology across FCA’s full product portfolio. Waymo said it has already started to work together to imagine future FCA products for the movement of people and goods operated by the Waymo Driver. The deal follows the development of a Chrysler Pacifica minivan that operates at Level 4 autonomy for safe, driverless operation on most major roads.
In addition, Waymo will work exclusively with FCA as its preferred partner on the development and testing of L4 autonomous light commercial vehicles for goods movement. The company plans to initially target integration of the Waymo Driver into the Ram ProMaster van, a highly configurable platform that will enable access to a broad range of global commercial customers.
The expansion of Waymo’s partnership with FCA is described as a step towards scaling and deploying the Waymo driverless technology across ride-hailing, trucking, local delivery, and personal car ownership. “Together, we’ll introduce the Waymo Driver throughout the FCA brand portfolio, opening up new frontiers for ride-hailing, commercial delivery, and personal-use vehicles around the world”, explained Waymo CEO John Krafcik.
“We became the only partnership actually deploying fully autonomous technology in the real world, on public roads,” added FCA Chief Executive Officer Mike Manley. “Adding Waymo’s commitment to partner with us to deploy its L4 fully autonomous technology across our entire product portfolio, our partnership is setting the pace for the safe and sustainable mobility solutions that will help define the automotive world”
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