Honda Motor announced last 21 December that it had entered into formal talks with Alphabet new self-driving division Waymo to add self-driving technology to its vehicles, marking the second potential customer for the automation software.
The move comes just one week after Google spun off its self-driving unit into its own company named "Waymo" with a mandate to strike partnerships with automakers and others and commercialize the research it has been developing for over seven years.
The potential deal illustrates how automakers faced with the high costs of developing the new technology in-house are separating into those betting on developing it alone, such as Ford Motor and General Motors, and those turning to partnerships with suppliers to spread the costs.
Honda's announcement marks Google’s second potential tie-up with an automaker over its self-driving technology. The first came in May, when the technology giant signed a deal with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to incorporate the tech into the carmaker’s minivans.
Unlike cash-strapped Fiat Chrysler, however, Honda has already committed its own resources to autonomous driving, and it said last 20 December that those efforts would continue.
The move comes just one week after Google spun off its self-driving unit into its own company named "Waymo" with a mandate to strike partnerships with automakers and others and commercialize the research it has been developing for over seven years.
The potential deal illustrates how automakers faced with the high costs of developing the new technology in-house are separating into those betting on developing it alone, such as Ford Motor and General Motors, and those turning to partnerships with suppliers to spread the costs.
Honda's announcement marks Google’s second potential tie-up with an automaker over its self-driving technology. The first came in May, when the technology giant signed a deal with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles to incorporate the tech into the carmaker’s minivans.
Unlike cash-strapped Fiat Chrysler, however, Honda has already committed its own resources to autonomous driving, and it said last 20 December that those efforts would continue.
No comments:
Post a Comment