Honda, Waymo to Collaborate on Self-Driving Cars

Honda R&D Co. Ltd., the R&D subsidiary of Honda Motor Co. Ltd., has entered into formal discussions with Waymo, an Alphabet Inc. (Google) company, to integrate self-driving technology into Honda vehicles. These vehicles would join Waymo’s existing fleet, which are currently being tested in four U.S. cities.

The technical collaboration between Honda researchers and Waymo’s self-driving technology team would allow both companies to learn from the integration of Waymo’s fully self-driving sensors, software, and computing platform into Honda vehicles, according to the company.

As part of the discussion on technical collaboration, Honda could initially provide Waymo with vehicles modified to accommodate Waymo's self-driving technology, the company said.

If both parties consent to enter into a formal agreement, Honda R&D engineers based in Silicon Valley and Tochigi, Japan, would work with Waymo engineers based in Mountain View, Calif., and Novi, Mich.