Lyft and Waymo reach deal to collaborate on self-driving cars

by Dramelin 2:30 AM 0 comments

The deal between Waymo and Lyft has competitive implications for Uber, the world`s biggest ride-hailing company, which has recently had to confront a spate of workplace and legal problems.
Lyft is a distant No.
2 to Uber among ride-hailing services in the United States, and the two companies are bitter rivals.
Waymo is also competing fiercely with Uber in the creation of technology for autonomous cars and is embroiled in a lawsuit over what it says is Uber`s use of stolen Waymo trade secrets to develop such technology.
Details about the deal between Waymo and Lyft were scant.
The companies declined to comment on what types of products would be brought to market as a result of it or when the public might see the fruits of the collaboration.
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 Lyft`s 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.