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Google, Fiat Chrysler Plan Partnership On Self-Driving Minivans (androidheadlines.com)
An anonymous reader writes: Google and Fiat Chrysler were in "late stage talks" last week about working out a partnership where the two could build some self-driving cars together. Google has the tech available -- it just needs to partner with a car manufacturer, as Google hasn't mass-produced a car before, and could use the experience. A report coming out of Bloomberg says the two companies could be putting Google's autonomous driving technology into some prototypes of the upcoming Pacifica minivan. The report says Fiat Chrysler is looking to equip their upcoming plug-in hybrid Pacifica with Google's autonomous technology. Google could still work out a deal with Ford, which was rumored a few months ago, and they have been reportedly in talks with General Motors, but the deal with Chrysler could be signed as soon as today.
Lyin' ted is a traitor.
Minivans are probably the vehicle most likely to have more than a single occupant, and for those additional occupants to be attention-grabbing children. It's also a very good platform for long-distance driving, such that the combination of the two means that the adult, freed from the necessity of driving, could spend more time engaging with the kids, sightseeing, and otherwise doing things that the form-factor of the platform allows while the vehicle drives itself.
Minivans are essentially the most utility-driven vehicle that normal consumers buy, in the sense that they're the most versatile for the largest set of tasks. Hauling people. Hauling cargo. Hauling a combination. Driving long distances. Sports cars and four wheel drive trucks and SUVs are about the worst candidates if the owners use them to their design-intentions, sports cars are supposed to be fun to drive, and 4x4s probably won't have any kind of autonomous mode that would work off-pavement.
I could see a road-trip in a self-driving minivan being a comfortable thing, especially if they get the design of the interior such that it allows the "driver" to turn around and participate with the passengers.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
Why do we need self-driving cars? If anything, we should be wanting simpler cars that are controlled less by computers. If the scandals at companies like VW and GM haven't convinced us that auto manufacturers won't make sure cars are safe, I don't know what will. We'll have less control of self-driving cars, which will probably be even more dangerous.
I expect this post will be buried at -1 because nobody wants to answer tough questions like this. I don't expect serious answers, only downmods and personal attacks labeling this as flamebait or a troll. I hope someone can give me a good answer but I seriously doubt it.
Is that no one wants to be self driven. 99% of people want to drive themselves.
Why do these articles keep indicating that Google has the tech? They were just driving into a bus at 2mph a month ago and all of a sudden they have eliminated every one of those problems from happening? How much testing have they done on snowed in and icy roads? Google may be in the beginning phases of working on the tech but they are nowhere near to 'having' the tech from what I can see.
Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
Fiat Chrysler Dodge etc. have terrible reliability issues
They were jokes before they merged and they are still jokes now
why would anyone buy that crap?
Thats what me and my man will be doing.
I, for one, welcome or new SoccerMomBot overlords!
Just in time for Mother's Day!
Yeh and their balloons fall out of the sky, nothings perfect.
IMHO I won't touch any Google car because it will be riddled with surveillance ware. Fiat is really the maker of last choice for Google, because nobody else wants to work with them when they want live invasive surveillance of the cars occupants.
The most awesome potential for a self deriving minivan is something few see coming - the ability to transport kids to activities with NO ADULT PRESENT.
Why would there need to be? The parents of every child riding in the Road Pod could monitor the interior remotely and issue stern commands over speakers as required.
This would give parents a lot more choice about attending activities - they would not have to show up hours early for a pre-game warmup or practice, they could just show up to enjoy the game and at the same time let the kids have a little space for enjoying each other at full volume.
It could give a lot of kids some vital independence from adults they really need in these days of helicopter parenting.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I did not expect that. I expected that Google Car will always be a conceptual challenge to traditional manufacterers, who will have to work in this direction and gradually increase automation year by year, while Google Car never having a chance to become a real car manufacturer.
I do not believe in karma. "Funny"=-6. Do good and forbid evil. Yours, Oft-Offtopic Flamebaiting Troll.
Then they can self-drive to the dealership everytime something breaks down.
Sergio Marchionne, CEO of FCA, has been running around telling anyone who would listen that the auto company is going to need more partnerships in design and production. The rest of the industry has been saying "no, no we don't" and laughing at them for being failures. Well, I doubt they're laughing now. The auto industry has been alternately concerned and intrigued about the idea of partnering with Apple or Google on a self-driving car, because getting them involved will create some disruption in the market and the auto companies have had a good thing going here selling us minorly-revised crap for a long time.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
"Be of good cheer; I give you: Fiat-Chrysler."
A bit worried - I think we've all experienced bugs with Google: Google Maps trying to take us down an unnavigable route or do a U turn on a motorway, or Android crashing unpredictably. I think it's sensible to expect a Google self driving car to do the same thing, unless Google dramatically ups their game in terms of quality control.
If they were to go to Tesla to get frame and drive train, along with help on building factory, Google would cause a major fear in auto industry. That would spead up conversion to EVs. Now, auto industry might take their time.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
With Fiat as a partner, the vehicle will simplify owners lives by taking itself to the service shop on a weekly basis.
A self-driving minivan maximizes the opportunity for sex in moving cars. I predict brisk sales.
Maybe child endangerment laws?
Once you take that to court and prove it's safer inside the self-driving car than out, you will not be able to prosecute for child endangerment. Lawsuits are simply part of the business model, as with Uber.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley