Automotive

Waymo takes delivery of modified Chryslers for self-driving tests

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Chrsyler's modified Pacifica Hybrid minivans will be added to Waymo’s self-driving test fleet early next year
Chrysler / Waymo
Chrsyler's modified Pacifica Hybrid minivans will be added to Waymo’s self-driving test fleet early next year
Chrysler / Waymo
Chrysler has made modifications to the electrical, powertrain, chassis and structural systems of the Pacifica Hybrid minivans
Chrysler / Waymo
Waymo will add its own self-driving technology to the modified Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans
Chrysler / Waymo
Waymo's self-driving technology includes a central computer for operating the systems, sensors for mapping and monitoring surroundings and telematics systems
Chrysler / Waymo
Chrsyler has modified 100 of the Pacifica Hybrid minivans for Waymo
Chrysler / Waymo
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Chrysler has completed the production of 100 Pacifica Hybrid minivans built specifically for self-driving use by Waymo. The news is the first of note to come out of Waymo since it was spun-out from being Google's autonomous car project, with the vehicles to be used for self-driving testing.

Chrysler has made modifications to the electrical, powertrain, chassis and structural systems of the vehicles to accommodate Waymo's own self-driving technology, which is currently being fitted. This includes a central computer for operating the systems, sensors for mapping and monitoring surroundings and telematics systems.

The collaboration with Chrysler was announced in May last year and was the first such partnership with a carmaker for the Alphabet subsidiary. It saw engineers from the two companies working jointly out of a facility in Michigan with the aim of expediting the development process and testing the vehicles at sites in Michigan, Arizona and California.

The Pacifica Hybrid minivans will be added to Waymo's self-driving test fleet early next year.

Sources: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Waymo

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3 comments
Robert Walther
I am a big fan of automated transportation and a user of Google, but I am not buying any vehicle that looks like it was designed by a grossly incompetent twit.
Bob Flint
It currently needs to be this big because of the electronics on board, otherwise no room left for passengers. The sensors & roof rack components are current state of the art modules. Form follows function....
habakak
@Walther....I agree, Chrysler makes some silly and nasty looking cars. However, the whole point of autonomous cars is that you DON'T buy them anymore. And if you don't own it, why even care what it looks like?