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Stellantis, the automotive juggernaut behind brands like Chrysler, Jeep, and Ram, is not just maintaining its collaboration with autonomous vehicle pioneer Waymo – it's taking it to new heights. CEO Carlos Tavares unveiled plans to deepen their partnership, with a keen focus on deploying self-driving Ram delivery vans, a venture first announced back in 2020 but since veiled in secrecy.
Tavares shed light on the pivotal challenge of autonomous deliveries: the seamless transition from vehicle to doorstep. “When you reach the destination, how do you take the parcel out of the van?” he pondered, highlighting a critical aspect the renewed collaboration aims to address.
While Tavares remained tight-lipped on specifics, hinting at forthcoming revelations possibly by summer, he hinted at a broader scope for collaboration, teasing a future brimming with possibilities.
Despite the tantalizing prospects, execution remains a formidable hurdle. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, is yet to commercialize its autonomous delivery service, having redirected its focus towards scaling its robotaxi operations. Previous partnerships, like the one with Uber, have shown promise but are yet to materialize into tangible services.
However, this renewed vigor between Stellantis and Waymo marks a resurgence of interest in a collaboration that once seemed destined to fade away. From their initial partnership in 2016 to the deployment of custom Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans, the journey has been fraught with challenges, yet crucial for advancing autonomous mobility.
