Alphabet's Waymo unveils its autonomous Chrysler minivan
Image: Waymo
By Stan Schroeder 2016-12-19 15:50:01 UTC
Google's parent company Alphabet announced last week it had spun off Google's self-driving cars division into a new company called Waymo.
And on Monday, Waymo CEO John Krafcik shared some info about the company's first car, a modified, self-driving Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan.
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In May, Google teamed up with Fiat Chrysler to build a fleet of 100 autonomous Pacifica minivans. But this is the first time we can actually see how the completed vehicle looks. According to Krafcik, the cars are equipped with Waymo's latest self-driving tech, which includes a "suite of updated sensors, all-new computer and other major system updates."
Waymo's self-driving Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans have been tested at several test tracks, including more than 200 hours of "extreme-weather" testing, before production started in October, Krafcik wrote.
"Getting from program kickoff to production and full vehicle assembly in half a year is a testament to the strong teamwork and collaboration between FCA and Waymo engineers. We're looking forward to having these new vehicles on public roads in 2017," he wrote.
A recent Bloomberg report said Waymo and Chrysler might launch a self-driving, ride-sharing service late next year, powered by the Pacifica fleet. The report also claimed the two companies plan to launch a full electric version of the minivan at CES 2017, which takes place in Las Vegas in early January.
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Topics: alphabet, chrysler pacifica hybrid minivan, Google, self-driving car, Tech, Transportation, waymo