An agreement on the technology partnership for self-driving cars has been almost reached between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Google owner Alphabet. The talks between the two parts have been going on for several months, and they may finally agree the deal these days.
The deal would start with Chrysler Pacifica minivans. Alphabet has ambitions as an auto supplier and is seeking to sell its self-driving car technology to automakers. General Motors Co. talked to Google about developing and testing self-driving cars, but they were unable to come to a deal because of disagreements over ownership of the technology and data.
Google's car-development executives have said they don't want to build cars themselves. If so, in the context of the agreement with Fiat Chrysler, Google will develop the brains of self-driving cars and own the technology and data, while the automaker's assembly plants will supply the manufacturing capacity.
This deal could work for both companies. FCA can't afford to develop its own autonomous cars and an Internet company like Google wouldn't want to spend billions on factories.
