Google is possibly joining forces with Fiat Chrysler in its self-driving car endeavor
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Well, it looks like Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is finally getting that partner—just not in the way it expected.
It’s well known that the Italian-American carmaker has been searching for an automotive partner to help develop its mid-sized Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 sedans. While it is still looking for a partner—and likely won’t stop doing so until it finds one—Fiat Chrysler has now started a new partnership with an unexpected company: Google.
According to a recent report from Automotive News, Fiat Chrysler and Google have teamed up to develop multiple self-driving prototypes based on the brand-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivan.
Talk about an unexpected endeavor.
Using the Pacifica as a self-driving prototype is the first phase of a project that plans on creating autonomous vehicles. Fiat Chrysler is planning to equip the 2017 Pacifica with Google technology later this year, which might make the Pacifica one of the most technologically advanced minivans on the market. Add the fact that it’s the first-ever minivan to offer a plug-in hybrid powertrain option, and it’s no stretch to say that the Pacifica truly is one-of-a-kind.
This will be the first time Google has entered an accord with a major carmaker since the company announced that it was developing self-driving vehicles in 2014. It seems that this partnership will be a win-win for both companies, since Fiat Chrysler will also receive some pretty high-tech features in the future—features that are quickly becoming must-haves for car buyers.
News Source: Automotive News (subscription required)
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