Fiat Chrysler Automobiles said today it has completed the development of 100 uniquely outfitted Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans and has delivered them to Waymo, which will turn them into the industry’s first test fleet of fully autonomous minivans.
The test fleet is part of a collaboration announced in May between the Auburn Hills automaker and Waymo, a company that was previously known as Google’s Self-Driving Car Project until it renamed itself last week.
For Waymo, FCA modified the Pacifica’s electrical, powertrain, chassis and structural systems. Waymo will now outfit the Pacificas with its self-driving technology, including an additional computer and a suite of sensors that enables the vehicle to digitally map its surroundings, allowing it to self-drive.
“The Pacifica Hybrid will be a great addition to our fully self-driving test fleet. FCA’s product development and manufacturing teams have been agile partners, enabling us to go from program kickoff to full vehicle assembly in just six months,” Waymo CEO John Krafcik said in a statement. “They’ve been great partners, and we look forward to continued teamwork with them as we move into 2017.”
Waymo is expected to deploy the test fleet next year.
Krafcik, in a blog post expected to be published today on medium.com, said Waymo must test and explore all kinds of vehicles to see what works best as a driverless car.
“With this great new minivan on the road in our test markets, we’ll learn how people of all ages, shapes, and group sizes experience our fully self-driving technology,” Krafcik said.
FCA’s relationship with Waymo is the automaker’s highest-profile move in the industry’s race to develop and perfect fully autonomous, or self-driving vehicles.
“As consumers’ transportation needs evolve, strategic collaborations such as this one are vital to promoting a culture of innovation, safety and technology,” FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne said in a statement. “Our partnership with…