Eight years into its effort to make self-driving cars a reality, executives from Waymo say they?re shifting their focus from the technology itself and turning more attention toward the needs of people who will use the vehicles. The company, an independent subsidiary spun out from Google?s self-driving-car project, has announced that it’s adding 500 Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans to its autonomous fleet.
That represents a massive increase from the 100 Pacificas that Waymo outfitted with its self-driving systems last year. Many of the new vehicles will head to Phoenix, Arizona, where the company has created an Early Rider program that allows members of the public to use self-driving cars in their daily routines in exchange for giving feedback on the vehicles. The program quietly launched over the past two months, Waymo revealed. ?We?ll learn things like where people want to go in a self-driving car, how they communicate with our vehicles, and what information and controls they want to see inside,? said Waymo CEO John Krafcik. ?Our early riders will play an important role in shaping the way we bring self-driving technology into the world.?
One of the first families chosen to participate in Waymo?s Early Rider program poses with one of the company?s Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans.
Waymo says it is seeking ?hundreds? of people from a variety of backgrounds to use the vehicles in Phoenix and its suburbs. Residents interested in participating can apply to be part of t...