Move to autonomy picks up speed
The world’s first plant dedicated to the mass production of autonomous vehicles, was announced this week.
Google’s self-driving car spinoff Waymo is building the plant in Michigan, and says ultimately it will employ up to 400 people.
The company hopes to open the plant later this year, indicating just how close autonomous vehicles are getting.
Waymo integrates its self-driving system into vehicles it buys from carmakers such as Chrysler and Jaguar.
It has said it will buy 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica minivans and 20,000 Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs.
The vehicles are already being tested for ride-hailing services in the United States, although the vehicles are being tested using human backup drivers. Waymo has not said when autonomous operations will begin.
But clearly the march towards autonomy continues to gather pace, whether it involves established car companies or newcomers to the industry bolting on their technology to existing models.
Waymo is just one player in an increasingly crowded field of competitors racing to be the first to offer full autonomy. For example Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are all known to be developing autonomous vehicles.
Vehicle manufacturers are incorporating aspects of autonomous driving in the models they are selling now, with increasingly sophisticated driver assist systems on board.
Many of today’s new cars have automatic parking technology, and this function will quickly move from premium luxury models to mainstream vehicles.
Everything points to autonomy arriving sooner rather than later, so enjoy your driving while you can.