Google's Self-Driving Car Project to Buy 62,000 Minivans for a Ride-Hailing Service

Google's autonomous vehicle spinoff Waymo announced on Thursday that it is planning to buy up to 62,000 minivans from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles for a ride-hailing service, which will launch later in the year in Phoenix. Waymo had previously struck a deal to buy 20,000 compact cars from Jaguar Land Rover in March. Rather than manufacturing cars itself, Waymo plans to retrofit these fleets with cameras, sensors, and other self-driving technology. Beyond ride hailing and leasing, Waymo indicated that it also plans to earn revenue from deliveries and mass transit. "We're excited to deepen our relationship with F.C.A. that will support the launch of our driverless service, and explore future products that support Waymo's mission," CEO John Krafcik told the New York Times.