Fiat Chrysler has stated that Waymo has placed an order for “thousands” more Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans as the self-driving technology division of Google prepares to launch autonomous ride-hailing services in Phoenix later this year.
A representative from FCA declined to provide details on the duration of the agreement or specify the quantity of the order. “We are not disclosing a specific figure, as it is dependent on Waymo’s operational requirements,” the spokesperson informed The Drive. Waymo has not responded immediately to a request for comments.
The car manufacturer supplied 100 Pacificas modified for autonomous driving to Waymo in the latter part of 2016, as stated by FCA, with an additional 500 manufactured last year. Waymo and FCA engineers worked together on creating a driverless vehicle based on a widely-used production platform.
“To advance rapidly and effectively in the field of autonomous driving, it is crucial to team up with innovative technology partners,” stated FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne in a press release. “This demonstrates our ongoing dedication to this technology.”
Waymo intends to introduce an autonomous ride-hailing service to the public in Phoenix in 2017, with the additional Pacificas to be utilized as the service expands to more cities across the U.S. The company has tested its technology in 25 U.S. cities, including Atlanta, San Francisco, and Detroit.
“These additional vehicles will facilitate our growth,” commented John Krafcik, CEO of Waymo, in the release.
In November, Waymo conducted road tests of a fleet of Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans without drivers, making these hybrid minivans the first vehicles to achieve Level 4 autonomy, a classification defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers, according to FCA.
The steps towards deploying self-driving vehicles on American roads come amidst studies revealing that Americans are not entirely comfortable with the idea and as policymakers deliberate on the advantages of enabling widespread implementation of this technology.
