Waymo and the FCA entered into an expanded deal that will also include self-driving Ram vans, specifically the Ram ProMaster van. As part of the agreement, Wamo will make FCA an exclusive partner for level 4 autonomous commercial vans. The two organizations initially started working together in 2016.
Mike Manly, the CEO of FCA, spoke about the new partnership agreement, "Adding Waymo’s commitment to partner with us to deploy its L4 fully autonomous technology across our entire product portfolio, our partnership is setting the pace for the safe and sustainable mobility solutions that will help define the automotive world in the years and decades to come."
Overall the agreement could set a precedent for future agreements between autonomous technology companies and clients.
Autonomous Van Partnerships
Waymo and FCA Entered into an Agreement for Self-Driving Ram Vans
Trend Themes
1. Autonomous Van Partnerships - Collaborations between autonomous technology companies and vehicle manufacturers are becoming more common, opening up opportunities for developing self-driving commercial vans.
2. Level 4 Autonomous Commercial Vans - The expansion of autonomous technology into the commercial van industry offers potential for disruptive innovation in the transportation and logistics sector.
3. Safe and Sustainable Mobility Solutions - The partnership between Waymo and FCA highlights the growing importance of developing autonomous technology that prioritizes safety and sustainability in the automotive industry.
Industry Implications
1. Automotive - The automotive industry can explore the potential of autonomous van partnerships to enhance their product offerings and cater to the growing demand for self-driving vehicles.
2. Transportation and Logistics - The transportation and logistics industry can seize the opportunity to leverage level 4 autonomous commercial vans to improve efficiency and productivity in last-mile delivery services.
3. Technology - The technology industry can collaborate with autonomous technology companies to further enhance self-driving capabilities, creating new disruptive innovation opportunities.