Waymon's Self Driving Jaguar I-PAce is being tested on public roads -- however, the autonomous vehicle is being tested with a fail-safe driver present around the company's headquarters in Mountian View, California. The company was formerly a project by Google but now works under Alphabet. In July 2018, it got its first three models to drive around San Fransisco collecting data, though their autonomous mode was not enabled at this time. Waymon plans to make the self driving jaguar I-Pace models available in 2020.
Waymo and JLR's deal was to produce around 20,000 modified versions of the I-Pace to use for an autonomous taxi service in the first two years. This deal was similar to a previous one Waymo did to manufacture Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans.
Image Credit: Waymo
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Autonomous Taxi Services
- Automakers and ride-hailing services have an opportunity to collaborate to develop and commercialize autonomous taxi services.
- Vehicle Data Collection and Utilization
- Companies that specialize in vehicle data collection and analysis have the opportunity to provide valuable insights to automakers and tech companies developing autonomous driving technology.
- Autonomous Vehicle Maintenance and Servicing
- As autonomous vehicles become more prevalent, there will be a need for specialized maintenance and servicing solutions to ensure safety and longevity of these vehicles.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Automotive Industry
- Automakers have the opportunity to partner with technology companies like Waymo to develop and commercialize autonomous vehicles and related services.
- Ride-hailing Industry
- Ride-hailing companies have the opportunity to incorporate more autonomous vehicles into their fleets, offering increased efficiency and cost savings.
- Data Collection and Analysis Industry
- Companies that specialize in vehicle data collection and analysis have the opportunity to provide valuable insights to the automotive and tech industries as they develop autonomous driving technology.
