Waymo and Toyota are dating. If they get serious, a new autonomous vehicle could be created.

Waymo and Toyota have agreed to discover a potential deal that would sooner or later result in a brand new car designed for ride-hailing and even convey self-driving tech into shopper automobiles.

The 2 corporations have signed a preliminary settlement to look into growing and deploying autonomous car platform, in keeping with a blog posted by Waymo. The language utilized by the businesses is obscure — and primarily comes right down to a hey-lets-see-how-we-work-together association. A spokesperson stated extra particulars can be shared if there’s a definitive settlement.

The aim, if Waymo and Toyota formally companion, is two-fold. The businesses would mix their respective strengths to develop a brand new autonomous car platform that may be used for a robotaxi service. The businesses would additionally take a look at bringing Waymo’s know-how into the next-generation of Toyota automobiles offered to customers.

The scope of the collaboration will proceed to evolve by means of ongoing discussions, Waymo stated within the weblog publish.

“Toyota is dedicated to realizing a society with zero site visitors accidents and changing into a mobility firm that delivers mobility for all,” Hiroki Nakajima, Member of the Board and Government Vice President of Toyota Motor Company, stated in an announcement, including the automaker shares “a powerful sense of goal and a standard imaginative and prescient with Waymo in advancing security by means of automated driving know-how.

The timing of the announcement, whereas obscure, is notable. Final week, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai made remarks through the firm’s earnings name that advised Waymo was looking at personally owned autonomous vehicles. Waymo has talked vaguely about licensing its tech earlier than. Nevertheless, this was the primary time that the highest government of its mum or dad firm spoke publicly in regards to the risk.

As Waymo has transitioned from a analysis and improvement program to a industrial operation, the corporate has sought to partnership with different companies. Waymo has a robotaxi service in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and shortly Atlanta. Traditionally, Waymo has dealt with all facets of the robotaxi enterprise, together with the app, upkeep, and ride-hailing operations.

That modified in latest months. Waymo has employed Moove to handle its fleet of AVs in Phoenix. It has additionally turned to Uber to share the duty for robotaxi operations in Austin, and shortly in Atlanta.

Beneath the so-called “Waymo on Uber” robotaxi service, Waymo is accountable for car testing, roadside help, and sure facets of rider help. Uber manages the fleet companies comparable to car cleansing, upkeep, inspections, charging, and depot operations by means of an organization known as Avomo.