Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Waymo have announced an expansion to their partnership which will see up to 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans added to Waymo’s self-driving fleet, with delivery expected to begin in late 2018.
The two companies also announced the beginning of discussions to use Waymo’s self-driving technology, through a licensing agreement, in an FCA-manufactured vehicle that will be available to retail customers.
“FCA is committed to bringing self-driving technology to our customers in a manner that is safe, efficient and realistic,” said Sergio Marchionne, chief executive officer of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
“Strategic partnerships, such as the one we have with Waymo, will help to drive innovative technology to the forefront.
The partnership between the two companies was announced in 2016, and saw engineers from FCA and Waymo working together to integrate self-driving technology into the hybrid vehicle’s architecture.
