Fiat Chrysler Partners With Google In Autonomous Vehicle Effort

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) and Google have announced a partnership that will greatly benefit both parties. 

Fiat Chrysler has been lagging behind GM and Ford in the sales category. With low gas prices, FCA's Jeep and Ram brands have been selling well, but the company also announced that they will be discontinuing their compact Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 sedans after this model year. Meanwhile, FCA has been searching for a way to gain traction in the autonomous vehicle race.

Enter Google, who has been searching for a commercial partner with manufacturing capabilities for some time now. They have also been working on autonomous vehicle technology for a few years. FCA will now have access to that wealth of information. Google claims to have already logged over 1.4 million miles on public roads with it's previous prototypes.

According to USA Today, Google plans to take delivery of 100 2017 Chrysler Pacifica minivans that have been specially modified at the factory to accommodate "the array of on-board radar, laser-radar and cameras that allow cars to drive themselves." The vans are expected to hit the road for testing later this year. The Pacifica has also been touted as the only minivan available as a plug-in hybrid.

In a statement, Google said that the Pacifica will allow them to "test a larger vehicle that would be easier for passengers to enter and exit." Until now, the internet juggernaut has only tested their technology on a few modified Lexus SUVs and a couple of two-seater prototypes they designed and built.

This deal will also be non-exclusive, so Fiat Chrysler and Google will still be able to work with different partners on further developing their technologies. Google has previously tried to negotiate deals with GM and Ford, but these potential agreements fell through on both occasions.