Image Credits:<\/strong> Waymo<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The minivan\u2019s initial reveal represented the moment when \u201cChauffeur\u201d became Waymo and less of a science project, he noted. But there was still considerable work to be done.<\/p>\n

The Chrysler Pacifica was the ultimate commercial proving ground, according to anecdotes from Ludwick, who recounted the progress of moving from autonomous driving 10 miles in one day, then 100 miles, and then a 100 miles everyday.<\/p>\n

For instance, the company discovered that families were far more enthusiastic to use the minivan than it assumed. The minivan also helped develop the company\u2019s AV operations playbook, including how to park vehicles in between rides and where to locate depots for maintenance and charging.<\/p>\n

The minivan also became a testbed for how to operate a driverless fleet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to COVID, the fleet in Phoenix was a mix of driverless vehicles and those with human safety operators behind the wheel.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn three months we turned it fully driverless and figured out how to disinfect the vehicles between each ride,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n