Google Waymo’s New Self-Driving Car: Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid

The tech giant’s recently announced self-driving car company, Waymo, has revealed its new fully autonomous Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid.   

Waymo and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) have revealed their first, fully self-driving vehicle, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid. For the uninitiated, Waymo, rechristened last week, is Google’s self-driving car company, which was formerly known as the Google self-driving car project. 

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John Krafcik, chief executive officer, Waymo, said, “The Pacifica Hybrid will be a great addition to our fully self-driving test fleet. FCA’s product development and manufacturing teams have been agile partners, enabling us to go from program kickoff to full vehicle assembly in just six months.”  

FCA highlighted in an official release that production of 100 Pacifica Hybrid – bespoke built to outfit Waymo’s fully self-driving tech – has been completed. Among others, Waymo’s tech primarily includes a purpose-built computer, a suite of sensors and telematics. It will join Waymo’s self-driving fleet in early 2017. 

 FCA’s head honcho Sergio Marchionne commented, “Our partnership with Waymo enables FCA to directly address the opportunities and challenges the automotive industry faces as we quickly approach a future where fully self-driving vehicles are very much a part of our daily lives.”

Uniquely built 100 Waymo-FCA Pacifica Hybrids feature modifications to their electrical, powertrain, chassis and structural systems. It was tested at FCA’s Chelsea Proving Grounds in Michigan along with Arizona Proving Grounds, as well as Waymo test sites in California.