FCA & Google to Build Autonomous Minivans Together

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles in partnership with Google, Alphabet Inc., confirmed their collaboration about building self-driving minivans. The companies claimed they would join forces to create 100 hybrid autonomous prototypes backed by the Chrysler Pacifica model. As recently been confirmed, the first portents could attack the road towards the end of 2016. According to the experts, it is believed the first time Google intends to cooperate with an old-school carmaker in creating a self-driving hybrid prototype since 2009 when the conglomerate started its ambitious project.

The joint collaboration is considered to be an initial phase of the high-end project to prove the Google self-driving technologies before launching the first autonomous vehicles. According to Chris Urmson, Chief of Google self-driving vehicle project, the result may be considered as a potential business model. At the same time, FCA doesn’t intend to license any of Google hi-tech investigations as the prototypes will be the part of the entire Google’s sample fleet.