Self-driving Jaguar I-Pace is Waymo’s first autonomous EV

Jaguar Land Rover teams up with Waymo, formerly Google’s self-driving car project

Waymo Jaguar I-Pace self-driving EVJaguar Land Rover has announced a huge self-driving car partnership in New York – the Jaguar I-Pace is to become the first autonomous electric vehicle in the Waymo test fleet.

Described as a long-term strategic partnership, the JLR deal with Waymo – formerly Google’s self-driving car project – will see first testing of the I-Pace electric SUV begin in late 2018.

By 2020, the Jaguar I-Pace will join the Waymo driverless test fleet, bringing genuine self-driving electric cars (with nobody in the front seat) to public roads. As Waymo is planning to launch the world’s first self-driving transportation service later this year, it means the public will eventually be able to request an autonomous I-Pace via an app on their smartphone.

Waymo Jaguar I-Pace self-driving EV

The Waymo I-Pace will be on show at the New York International Auto Show this week. It’ll be a first look at a car that could in time become a familiar sight: JLR speaks of building a whopping 20,000 I-Pace in the first two years of production for Waymo’s driverless service.

They could serve as many as one million trips every day.

Prof. Dr. Ralf Speth, JLR CEO, said: “Our passion for further advancing smart mobility needs expert long-term partners. In joining forces with Waymo, we are pioneering to push the boundaries of technology.”

John Krafcik, Waymo CEO said: “While we’ve been focused at Waymo on building the world’s most experienced driver, the team at Jaguar Land Rover has developed an all-new battery-electric platform that looks to set a new standard in safety, design and capability.

“We’re sure Waymo riders will enjoy the safe, premium and delightful experience that the self-driving I-Pace will provide.”

JLR bosses say this arrangement is potentially the first in a number of collaborations with Waymo, the ambitious Mountain View, California self-driving car firm. To date, Waymo has concentred on a fleet of self-driving Chrysler Pacificas.

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Richard Aucock
Richard Aucockhttps://www.richardaucock.co.uk/
Richard is director at Motoring Research. He has been with us since 2001, and has been a motoring journalist even longer. He won the IMCO Motoring Writer of the Future Award in 1996 and the acclaimed Sir William Lyons Award in 1998. Both awards are run by the Guild of Motoring Writers and Richard is currently vice chair of the world's largest organisation for automotive media professionals. Richard is also a juror and Steering Committee director for World Car Awards and the UK juror for the AUTOBEST awards.

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