Uber Technologies Inc. has held talks with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV about a potential partnership involving self-driving auto technology, people familiar with the matter said. Therefore, Uber is in dire need to tap into a technology company to further its driverless vehicle initiative, rather than a auto manufacturing company like Fiat Chrysler, which itself is looking for autonomous driving partnerships.
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Uber Technologies and FCA declined AFP requests for comment. The risk is that it’s relegated to the role of hardware producer for tech companies. Uber too has been in talks with Toyota over the self-driving vehicle project. “We believe that the scenario where every carmaker develops its own autonomous driving is another example of capital wasting in the industry”.
“I confirm what other (EU) member countries have found, that there aren’t illegal defeat devices on diesel models from any companies besides those already identified on Volkswagen cars”, Mr. Delrio said at a conference in Luxembourg.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCAU) may be mulling a partnership with Uber Technologies to create a partnership that would incorporate autonomous vehicle technology, sources told the Wall Street Journal.
Some of Fiat’s bigger rivals have been investing in various tech ventures, including ride-hailing services, to have an inside look at an industry that’s taking aim at the concept of vehicle ownership.
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Uber offers automakers access to a massive fleet of cars for gathering data and improving systems. General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. have both spent hundreds of millions investing in ride-sharing and other mobility strategies. The companies plan to test drive the minivan by the end of this year. Fiat has even managed to strike a deal with Google, where the Italian automaker has supplied new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to the US-based tech-giant. Uber, on the other hand, doesn’t have expertise in developing cars.
