PHOTO: Google
The Google autonomous test fleet would be more than doubled with the addition of 100 new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans, with the companies aiming to have some on the road by the end of this year.
The collaboration with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) marks the first time that the California-based Internet giant has worked directly with an automaker to build self-driving vehicles.
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"FCA will design the minivans so it's easy for us to install our self-driving systems, including the computers that hold our self-driving software, and the sensors that enable our software to see what's on the road around the vehicle," the car team said in a post at Google+ social network.
The minivan design also provides opportunity to explore the potential of large self-driving vehicles that could be used mass-transit style with features such as hands-free sliding doors for getting in or out, according to the post.
Alphabet said it was not licensing its autonomous car technology, nor would it be selling the self-driving minivans.
Google began testing its autonomous driving technology in 2009, using a Toyota Prius equipped with the tech giant's equipment. It now has some 70 vehicles including Lexus cars adapted by Google and its in-house designed cars unveiled in 2014.
FCA will design and engineer around 100 vehicles uniquely built for self-driving technology that Google will integrate into vehicles, according to the carmaker.
The companies will position engineering teams at a facility in Michigan to accelerate the design, testing and manufacturing of the self-driving Chrysler Pacifica.
"FCA has a nimble and experienced engineering team and the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan is well-suited for Google's self-driving technology," said Google Self-Driving Car Project chief executive John Krafcik said in a release.
"The opportunity to work closely with FCA engineers will accelerate our efforts to develop a fully self-driving car that will make our roads safer and bring everyday destinations within reach for those who cannot drive."
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The US agency in charge of highway safety early this year provided feedback indicating that a bubble-shaped autonomous car built by Alphabet could qualify as being its own driver.
In a written response to a query from the Silicon Valley-based technology firm, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that since the self-driving cars lacks steering wheels or other controls for humans, it is "more reasonable to identify the driver as whatever (as opposed to whoever) is doing the driving."
While the administration's response didn't change rules of the road, it is seen as a green light of sorts for getting autonomous vehicles to market.
Google has been testing self-driving cars on California roads for a while, and an array of automobile makers including Audi, Ford, Mercedes, Lexus, Tesla and BMW are working on building self-driving capabilities into vehicles.
FCA chief executive officer Sergio Marchionne said in a statement that the partnership may help boost innovation in the sector.
"The experience both companies gain will be fundamental to delivering automotive technology solutions that ultimately have far-reaching consumer benefits," he said,
The US administration pledged in January to help clear the way for autonomous vehicles with an investment of $4 billion to fund research and testing projects.
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A Chinese auto firm revealed last month that it was buying two foreign companies and their self-driving technologies for more than $1 billion.
Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp. said it signed an agreement to buy US-based Key Safety Systems (KSS) Holdings Inc. for $920 million.
Ningbo, which provides driver control systems to auto giants such as General Motors and Mercedes-Benz, said it also plans to buy the car navigation business of Germany's TechniSat Digital GmbH for $204.6 million.
Chinese tech giant Baidu, which has opened a California research center for autonomous driving, has said it is planning to produce driverless cars by 2020.
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