Waymo is expanding its partnership with FCA by purchasing up to 62,000 additional Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans from the automaker.
Samantha Roberts Waymo is expanding its partnership with FCA by purchasing up to 62,000 additional Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans from the automaker.

Google affiliate Waymo will purchase up to 62,000 additional Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans from FCA US starting later this year to begin a national expansion of the company’s public driverless ride-hailing fleet, the two companies said Thursday.

In addition, Waymo and FCA said the two companies are beginning discussions with FCA about potentially licensing Waymo’s autonomous operations technology for use in a future FCA vehicle that would be available to retail customers.

The partnership is an exponential expansion of the relationship between Waymo and FCA, which began in May 2016 with the purchase of 100 Pacifica hybrid minivans for use in Waymo’s test fleet. To date, FCA has delivered 600 of the minivans to Waymo. It is unclear how quickly Waymo will take delivery of the additional minivans, but the company indicated that the sales from FCA will be as needed as Waymo expands operations.