Photo: Dezeen.com
In a bid to gain some edge on the driverless car market, Uber and Toyota are joining forces in a partnership that will see them working together on the development of autonomous cars.
The news comes hot on the heels of Uber’s announcement that plans for the future include a sharper focus on its electric scooter and bike business, to the detriment of driverless cars. Confirmation of the partnership follows a leak to the AP and a report in The Wall Street Journal, both citing unnamed sources familiar with the deal.
A joint statement from Uber and Toyota confirms the whispers: the carmaker will be investing $500 million into the new deal and will work with Uber towards the creation – and ultimately, mass production – of a driverless car. It will then be used on the Uber ride-sharing network.
Self-driving technology from both companies will be built into the Toyota vehicle, which will be based on the carmaker’s Sienna Minivan model, the BBC reports. Pilot trials are scheduled to start in 2021.
“This agreement and investment marks an important milestone in our transformation to a mobility company as we help provide a path for safe and secure expansion of mobility services like ride-sharing,” Shigeki Tomoyama, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Corporation, says by means of confirming the partnership.
“Our goal is to deploy the world’s safest self-driving cars on the Uber network and this agreement is another significant step towards making that a reality,” Dara Khosrowshahi, the chief executive of Uber, says. “Uber’s advanced technology and Toyota’s commitment to safety, and its renowned manufacturing prowess make this partnership a natural fit.”
Both Uber and Toyota as seen as lagging behind in terms of development of driverless cars, so a partnership will benefit both. Uber, for one, took a resounding hit with the fatal crash in Tempe, Arizona, in March this year, which led to the closure of its Arizona driverless pilot program and spawned a highly mediated and costly lawsuit.
A joint statement from Uber and Toyota confirms the whispers: the carmaker will be investing $500 million into the new deal and will work with Uber towards the creation – and ultimately, mass production – of a driverless car. It will then be used on the Uber ride-sharing network.
Self-driving technology from both companies will be built into the Toyota vehicle, which will be based on the carmaker’s Sienna Minivan model, the BBC reports. Pilot trials are scheduled to start in 2021.
“This agreement and investment marks an important milestone in our transformation to a mobility company as we help provide a path for safe and secure expansion of mobility services like ride-sharing,” Shigeki Tomoyama, executive vice president of Toyota Motor Corporation, says by means of confirming the partnership.
“Our goal is to deploy the world’s safest self-driving cars on the Uber network and this agreement is another significant step towards making that a reality,” Dara Khosrowshahi, the chief executive of Uber, says. “Uber’s advanced technology and Toyota’s commitment to safety, and its renowned manufacturing prowess make this partnership a natural fit.”
Both Uber and Toyota as seen as lagging behind in terms of development of driverless cars, so a partnership will benefit both. Uber, for one, took a resounding hit with the fatal crash in Tempe, Arizona, in March this year, which led to the closure of its Arizona driverless pilot program and spawned a highly mediated and costly lawsuit.
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