FCA And Waymo Sign Exclusive Autonomous Tech Deal

Fiat Chrysler and Waymo are expanding their autonomous tech partnership and have signed an exclusive agreement for light commercial vehicles.

The two companies will focus on the development and testing of class 1-3 light commercial vehicles and will initially target integration of the Waymo Driver system into the Ram ProMaster van. FCA will also use Waymo as a strategic partner for Level 4 autonomous technology development.

The U.S. carmaker is already picturing some of its future products, both utilitarian and passenger-focused, operated by the Waymo Driver.

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FCA and Waymo have been working together since 2016, testing the Waymo Driver on an L4-ready Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan. This partnership has already led to the first commercial autonomous ride-hailing service, including the offering of a fully driverless service to riders.

“Our now four-year partnership with Waymo continues to break new ground. By incorporating the Waymo Driver, the world’s leading self-driving technology, into our Pacifica minivans, we became the only partnership actually deploying fully autonomous technology in the real world, on public roads. With this next step, deepening our relationship with the very best technology partner in this space, we’re turning to the needs of our commercial customers by jointly enabling self-driving for light commercial vehicles, starting with the Ram ProMaster,” said FCA boss Mike Manley.

“Adding Waymo’s commitment to partner with us to deploy its L4 fully autonomous technology across our entire product portfolio, our partnership is setting the pace for the safe and sustainable mobility solutions that will help define the automotive world in the years and decades to come.”

For the long term, Waymo is committed to deploy its Level 4 autonomous technology across FCA’s full product portfolio.