Honda has announced it is entering into formal discussions with Waymo - the self-driving car company owned by Google/Alphabet - 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 computers into Honda vehicles.
As part of the discussion on the technical collaboration, Honda says its modified vehicles could join Waymo's self-driving fleet – currently being tested across four US cities – which includes 100 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans.
This collaboration would take place with Honda R&D engineers based in Silicon Valley, California and Tochigi, Japan, who would work closely with Waymo engineers based in Mountain View, California and Novi, Michigan.
Honda previously announced its intention to put production vehicles with automated driving capabilities on the road sometime around 2020 - relating to its goal of a 'collision-free society'. This technical collaboration with Waymo would allow Honda R&D to explore a different technological approach to bring fully self-driving technology to market. Through these joint efforts, Waymo and Honda R&D will begin to explore the potential of a broad range of automated driving technologies.