Honda announced that it is entering into formal discussions with Waymo, an independent company of Alphabet Inc. (formerly Google), to integrate its self-driving technology with Honda vehicles. This technical collaboration between Honda researchers and Waymo’s self-driving technology team will allow both companies to learn about the integration of fully self-driving sensors, software and computer into Honda vehicles.
As part of the discussion on technical collaboration, Honda could initially provide Waymo with vehicles modified to accommodate Waymo’s self-driving technology. These vehicles would join Waymo’s fleet, which are currently being tested across 4 U.S. cities in Texas, Washington, California and Arizona.
If both parties agree to enter into a formal agreement, Honda R&D engineers based in Silicon Valley, California and Tochigi, Japan, would work closely with Waymo engineers based in Mountain View, California and Novi, Michigan.
Honda has previously announced that they aim to offer a production vehicles with fully automated driving capabilities sometime around 2020. This technical collaboration with Waymo could allow Honda R&D to explore a different technological approach to bring fully self-driving technology to market.
However, just to be clear, this is not an announcement of a partnership, simply that the two are in talks to put Waymo technology in Honda vehicles so nothing is cast on stone just yet. It’s also obvious that the deal isn’t exclusive, given the recent announcement of an FCA partnership Waymo made just a couple of days ago where Fiat Chrysler will provide 100 specially-prepared Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids to support Waymo’s automonous vehicle project.
