Waymo, is the commercial spin-off of Google’s self-driving car project, has entered into a partnership with Renault Group and Nissan Motor Co. to aid in development of self-driving systems for a range of vehicles for passengers and goods.
The companies will work together exclusively to develop technology for vehicles that may be deployed in France and Japan. At the same time, no timeline was given for testing and/ or deployment of the tech.
On thing that sets this partnership apart from Waymo’s deals with Fiat Chrysler and Jaguar Land Rover, the Renault-Nissan partnership does not include supplying any cars.
“This is an ideal opportunity for Waymo to bring our autonomous technology to a global stage with an innovative partner,” John Krafcik, the company’s CEO, said in a statement.
“The story of tomorrow’s mobility will be jointly written, with the cooperation of the Alliance with Waymo, as industry leaders, opening new perspectives for driverless mobility services. We believe this partnership will accelerate our commitment to deliver new shared mobility services and benefit the automobile ecosystems by placing us at the forefront of driverless mobility new business streams in our key strategic markets, ” Thierry Bolloré, Chief Executive Officer, Groupe Renault, said in a statement.
Nissan CEO Hiroto Saikawa, in the statement, said his company would use the partnership to help address changing consumer behavior, adding Nissan “aims to be an early provider of driverless mobility service.”
Renault and Nissan will create joint-venture companies in France and Japan, respectively, that are dedicated to developing self-driving mobility services. Together with Waymo, the companies will explore market opportunities and research commercial, legal and regulatory issues related to autonomous technology.
In the future, the partners may explore joint work in other markets. But the companies say those long-term plans don’t include China.
