Toyota is investing $500 million in Uber. The two companies are also expanding their autonomous ride-sharing collaboration, integrating their technology jointly into purpose-built Toyota vehicles to be deployed on Uber’s ride-sharing network.
The initial “Autono-MaaS” (autonomous-mobility as a service) fleet will be based on Toyota’s Sienna Minivan platform, the companies said in a statement.
Uber’s autonomous driving system and the Toyota Guardian automated safety support system will be integrated into the Autono-MaaS vehicles. Toyota will also utilize its Mobility Services Platform (MSPF), its core information infrastructure for connected vehicles.
Uber and Toyota say they anticipate that the mass-produced autonomous vehicles will be owned and operated by mutually agreed upon third party autonomous fleet operators.
Pilot-scale deployments will begin on the Uber ride-sharing network in 2021.
Toyota’s investment in Uber and the proposed collaboration are subject to standard regulatory approvals.
[Image courtesy: Toyota]