Chrysler Pacifica minivans will hit the roads in 2017.
After Google announced last week that it has started a separate company called Waymo for its self-driving car program that will collaborate with a slew of car manufacturers to produce smart and autonomous cars, the company on Sunday removed the wraps off its first self-driving Chrysler Pacifica minivans.
The new minivan looks similar to its earlier version with a few new additions such as the autonomous sensors that peep through the corners and roof of the vehicle.
Waymo CEO John Krafik while making the announcement said that the minivan that his company collaborated with Chrysler will hit the roads in 2017.
It was only last week that Google announced its plan to make a separate company for its car program. Alphabet, the parent company of Google announced the new company as Waymo.
Waymo claims that it has already got a fleet of 58 vehicles, that include 24 Lexus SUVs waiting to see the light of the day soon. Waymo engineers and Chrysler engineers are working in tandem to better integrate self-driving technology into the vehicle design – first of its kind partnership between a Silicon Valley company and the auto industry.
Waymo’s Lexus SUVs had been refitted with autonomous driving sensors that give the vehicle an unfinished look. The sensors were added to the vehicle externally rather than being built into van’s frame.
Waymo has already tested early prototypes of its new vans, including over 200 hours in extreme weather. Google and Chrysler initially announced plans to make 100 Pacifica vans this May.