Toyota Motor Corporation and Alphabet Inc.’s self-driving arm, Waymo, announced on Wednesday their plans to study collaborative efforts in creating a new autonomous vehicle platform. This strategic partnership aims to integrate advanced autonomous technologies into next-generation personally owned vehicles (POVs).
According to a spokesperson from Waymo, Toyota will spearhead the development of the new platform, which will subsequently be incorporated into Waymo’s autonomous vehicle fleet. The collaboration also involves leveraging Waymo’s autonomous vehicle expertise to enhance Toyota’s personal vehicles.
In a joint statement, Toyota and Waymo conveyed their shared goal of accelerating the progression and broad acceptance of driver assistance and automated driving technologies within the personal vehicle segment.
Additionally, discussions are on the table to potentially broaden the collaboration’s scope, with Woven by Toyota, the automaker’s autonomous technology subsidiary, set to participate.
Waymo is steadily expanding its footprint through strategic alliances with major automotive players like Hyundai and Zeekr, along with ride-hailing giants such as Uber. In addition, the spokesperson noted that existing partnerships with aforementioned carmakers will remain intact.
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai recently hinted at the future possibility of consumers owning Waymo’s self-driving taxis.
In early April, Waymo initiated data collection efforts in Tokyo, employing test rides operated by human drivers. These activities are intended to map key urban areas and deepen their understanding of local infrastructure and driving patterns.
Meanwhile, Toyota’s autonomous arm, Woven by Toyota, is making strides in automotive software development with the Arene platform and is establishing Woven City, a dedicated testing environment in Shizuoka Prefecture. This site will focus on the integration of mobility-related systems and services.
