Jaguar I-Pace goes SELF-DRIVING with Waymo

Jaguar Land Rover announce a long-term partnership with Waymo to develop Premium self-driving cars, with self-driving Jaguar I-Pace models joining Waymo’s fleet.

Waymo, previously Google’s self-driving car project, is going ‘Premium’ as it teams up with Jaguar Land Rover to add ‘Premium’ cars to its fleet, starting with a self-driving Jaguar I-Pace electric SUV.

I-Pace models fitted with Waymo’s self-driving technology will start testing later this year, gathering data to help JLR’s engineers refine the technology with the aim of having 20,000 self-driving Jaguar I-Paces in operation in the first two years.

The self-driving I-Pace will join Waymo’s self-driving Chrysler Pacifica hybrids already operating, but Waymo are keen to get the I-Pace up and running to offer a ‘Premium’ alternative to the Chrysler MPV.

Ralph Speth, JLR CEO, said:

With the Jaguar I-PACE we have a world-beating car that’s captured the imagination of customers around the world. 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. Together we will deliver the self-driving Waymo Jaguar I-PACE with the grace, space and eco-pace that customers expect.

JLR may be getting more successful all the time, but they’re still a relative minnow compared to companies like the VW Group, BMW and Mercedes, so getting the Waymo self-driving deal is going to make them a proper player in the self-driving future, without the huge investment going their own way would mean.

As for Waymo, it gives them a ‘Premium’ service – and the opportunity to charge ‘Premium’ prices too, we’d guess.