Fiat Chrysler Automobiles announced that it will be selling more of its specially adapted Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids to Waymo as the Google-affiliated unit expands its autonomous ride sharing fleet into tests in other markets.
FCA has delivered 100 of the hybrid minivans specially adapted for autonomous ride sharing in 2016 and last year delivered an additional 500 vehicles. The new contract calls for “thousands” to be delivered to Waymo beginning by the end of 2018.
Waymo will begin opening up its autonomous ride sharing service to the public later this year in Phoenix and the new vehicles will also support the company’s tests in 25 other U.S. cities including Atlanta, San Francisco and the Detroit and Seattle metro areas.
“With the world’s first fleet of fully self-driving vehicles on the road, we’ve moved from research and development to operations and deployment,” said John Krafcik, Waymo’s CEO. “The Pacifica minivans offer a versatile interior and a comfortable ride experience and these additional vehicles will help us scale.”
Sergio Marchionne, CEC of FCA, said “in order to move quickly and efficiently in autonomy, it is essential to partner with like-minded technology leaders. Our partnership with Waymo continues to grow and strengthen; this represents the latest sign of our commitment to this technology.”
