Fiat Chrysler joins Intel and BMW to develop self-driving car

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will join the Intel, BMW and Mobileye partnership that aims to develop a platform for self-driving cars. In 2021, the first autonomous systems should be ready for mass production.

According to Intel, Fiat Chrysler has signed a letter of intent with the current participants. FCA is the first automaker to join the partnership, which was founded last year by Intel, BMW and Mobileye. At the time, there was already talk of an open platform, which should also be available to other automakers.

The companies want to capitalize on each other’s strengths and now that FCA has joined, the partnership is gaining a foothold in North America. The association plans to test 40 self-driving cars on the road by the end of this year and says it is on schedule.

The platform being developed by the companies should enable autonomous driving from ‘level 3 to level 5’. Level 3 means that the driver not only does not have to use his hands, but also no longer has to pay attention to what is happening at all. Level 4 stands for the level of autonomy where the occupants no longer have to think about the control of the car. In fact, that equates to level 5, where a driver is no longer required to move the vehicle.

Fiat Chrysler has long had a partnership with Waymo, Google’s sister company that is working on self-driving cars. Waymo showed Chrysler Pacifica minivans equipped with autonomous driving hardware late last year. The collaboration between FCA and Waymo will continue for the time being.

Intel lab in Arizona working on self-driving cars