Google’s Waymo and Toyota Motor Corporation have announced a potential partnership to develop a new autonomous vehicle platform. Waymo spokesperson Chris Bonelli stated that they aim to combine their strengths to create this new platform and explore ways to expand their self-driving technology to privately owned Toyota vehicles. Both companies share a vision of increasing road safety and providing better mobility for everyone.
The specifics of how Waymo’s technology might be integrated into passenger vehicles are still unclear. However, Waymo continues to develop a generalizable driver platform for ride-hailing and commercial purposes, hinting at a potential expansion to passenger cars in the future.
This initial agreement is seen as a potential collaboration between the two companies towards a shared vision of a future without traffic accidents. Waymo has made significant strides in autonomous taxi services in the US, operating in various cities and logging millions of miles without a driver. As for Toyota, they have experimented with autonomous concepts like the e-Palette vehicle used during the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
Waymo has also partnered with other major automakers in the past, showcasing potential collaborations with the likes of Hyundai and Zeekr from Geely Group. These partnerships aim to enhance Waymo’s technology and expand its AV industry ecosystem. The question remains: how will Waymo’s technology eventually be applied to privately owned vehicles? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
