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Lyft and Waymo Reach Deal to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars
EDIT: if you don't remember, Uber is accused of stealing its self driving car tech from Waymo.
Waymo, the self-driving car unit that operates under Googles parent company, has signed a deal with the ride-hailing start-up Lyft, according to two people familiar with the agreement who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. The deal calls for the companies to work together to bring autonomous vehicle technology into the mainstream through pilot projects and product development efforts, these people said.
Waymo holds todays best self-driving technology, and collaborating with them will accelerate our shared vision of improving lives with the worlds best transportation, a Lyft spokeswoman said in a statement.
The companies have left hints as to what the partnership could entail. Lyft, for instance, has long said it wants to match its network of passengers and drivers with partners in the transportation industry. Last year, it struck a deal with General Motors, a major Lyft investor, to help with that goal. Under that agreement, the companies plan to test autonomous Chevrolet Bolt vehicles using Lyfts network with the general public in the next few years.
Waymo has pursued its own partnerships. It is working with Fiat Chrysler on a fleet of minivans and is in talks with Honda about a possible deal that would put Waymo technology in Honda test vehicles. Waymo also recently introduced a pilot program in Phoenix in which consumers can apply to hail self-driving Chrysler minivans and Lexuses for free rides around the city. The company has said it hopes to find new ways through such partnerships to bring its self-driving technology to the general public after nearly a decade of development.
EDIT: if you don't remember, Uber is accused of stealing its self driving car tech from Waymo.