FCA and Waymo announced they have taken the next steps in the expansion of their successful autonomous driving technology partnership.
Waymo will work exclusively with FCA to develop and test Class 1-3 commercial vehicles for commercial delivery including Waymo Via. The two companies will 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. This partnership allows FCA and Waymo to leverage their respective strengths and competencies to determine how to effectively use autonomy. The effort’s goal is to address the specific needs of commercial customers given the rapid growth of goods delivery services.
FCA has also selected Waymo as its exclusive partner for L4 autonomous technology across the FCA fleet. Additionally, FCA has already started working with Waymo on future Waymo Driver-operated products for the movement of people and goods.
“Incorporating the Waymo Driver, the world’s leading self-driving technology, into our Pacifica minivans, we became the only partnership actually deploying fully autonomous technology in the real world on public roads,” says Mike Manley, CEO of FCA.
With this next step, FCA and Waymo will enable self-driving for light commercial vehicles beginning with the ProMaster, Manley says.
“Adding Waymo’s commitment to partner with us to deploy its L4 fully autonomous technology across our entire product portfolio,” Manley begins, “our partnership is setting the pace for the safe and sustainable mobility solutions that will help define the automotive world in the years and decades to come.”
MAKING HISTORY
“The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans were the first vehicles in our Waymo One fleet,” says John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo. “Today, we’re expanding our partnership with FCA with the Waymo Driver as the exclusive L4 autonomy solution for this global automotive company. 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.”
FCA became Waymo’s first OEM partner in 2016. Since then, the two companies have worked closely to integrate the Waymo Driver into FCA vehicles. They have made self-driving history in the proven, capable, L4-ready Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan. Additionally, this partnership led to the first commercial autonomous ride-hailing service, including the offering of fully driverless service to riders. This also includes driving in dozens of cities across diverse geographies and challenging weather conditions.
Find out more, visit www.fcagroup.com and www.waymo.com.
