Google buys thousands of the Fiat Chrysler cars for the pilotless taxi

At the end of January, 2018 Google announced large purchase of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles cars for expansion of the park of pilotless taxi. The Waymo company entering into Google is engaged in the project of self-governed machines.

Under the terms of the contract, Fiat Chrysler will deliver Waymo "tysyachi" of the Chrysler Pacific minivans. Shipments will begin at the end of 2018.

That quickly and effectively to go towards autonomy, it is important to cooperate with adherents in the field of technologies — the CEO of Fiat Chrysler Sergio Marchionne says, commenting on the transaction with Waymo. — Our partnership with Waymo continues to grow and become stronger that is the next confirmation of our commitment of this technology.

Google buys thousands of the Fiat Chrysler cars for the pilotless taxi

The companies did not begin to disclose either the exact number of the purchased Waymo of cars, or cost of the transaction. According to information from the website Fiat Chrysler, the recommended retail price of the hybrid Chrysler Pacifica 2018 minivan of model year in the USA is $40 thousand. Thus, one thousand such cars will cost Waymo $40 million.

Waymo planned full-scale start of service of pilotless taxi for 2018. Machines with an auto pilot of the company require rare intervention of the driver. It is supposed that service of the taxi will work at the initial stage only in certain districts of the cities where automobile traffic not so dense.

By February, 2018 the park of Waymo unmanned vehicles contains 600 pieces. Some of them are already used for transportation of people in Arizona.

Parked the first 100 cars Fiat Chrysler in May, 2016, and remained 500 — a year later. Besides, Waymo locates self-propelled Lexus RX SUVs which are gradually forced out by new models. On the machines Waymo puts the equipment and the software which allow transport to go independently. The company tests the auto pilot in 25 American cities.^[1]

Robotics