Google will work with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to modify one hundred 2017 Pacifica minivans for the purposes of expanding the road testing for Google’s self-driving technology.
“It’s a cool vehicle for us,” says Krafcik. “It’s more spacious and more flexible, and it being the only hybrid minivan in U.S. is very interesting for us, both because as a company we are environmentally and because of the car’s robust electrical architecture which is critical for self-driving vehicles.”
This deal is beneficial to both companies as Google needs more test miles under their belt and Fiat will be the first automotive company to be on the edge of developing commercial self-driving vehicles.
Fiat Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne expressed to USA TODAY that tech companies "are not my enemy, these are people who will help us shape the next phase of the automotive industry."
John Krafcik, head of Google's self-driving car project, appreciates the deal with Fiat especially because "they’re totally aligned with what we need to do at this stage, which is build more vehicles and get more testing miles under our belt.”
Google’s project has already logged 1.5 million miles with only a single at-fault accident. The company hopes that expanding their testing program will help to calm the worries of customers nervous about self-dirivng cars, as well as nudging lawmakers to fast-track the integration of the tech into society at large.
Google currently tests their vehicles in Mountain View, Calif., Phoenix, Ariz., Austin, Texas and Kirkland, Wash., but may add new cities to that list as soon as the modified Pacificas complete testing at Google’s California test facility later this year.