Toyota In Talks With Uber Over Self-Driving Technology

With Uber open to selling its autonomous technologies to other companies, Toyota is looking into installing the former’s self-driving systems in its vehicles.

This report, courtesy of Nikkei, doesn’t quote any sources, yet states that the two firms are negotiating a deal that would see Uber’s autonomous driving systems installed in one of Toyota’s minivans and that Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has already met with Toyota executives earlier this week.

The automaker has already formed a partnership with Uber on ride-hailing and the development of self-driving systems, and is open to collaborating with outside firms in order to speed up the arrival of new mobility solutions, according to Autonews.

“We regularly exchange information about automated driving with Uber for some time now,” a Toyota spokeswoman said, adding that no decisions have been made aside from the two firms’ existing partnership.

Toyota, of course, is an investor in Uber, offering flexible lease terms for its drivers. The two have also collaborated for the development of autonomous cars tasked with offering ride hailing and parcel delivery services.

Uber is competing with Waymo for the development of a self-driving car service, and has already made its autonomous trucks operational in Arizona, while also working with Volvo and Daimler for passenger cars.