Google is Retiring Its Self-Driving Car

The cute little car built by Google that came with no steering wheel or pedals for a human driver to use has become one of the most recognizable vehicles shown in pictures since 2014. This car offered a face that looked like a koala bear and allowed Google to test their self-driving technology for the past few years, but it’s time for this car to go by the wayside. The company has announced this little car will no longer be used to test and develop this technology as the company has grown beyond the need and use of this vehicle.

Instead of the little car that was known by Google employees as Firefly, the team will be using the new self-driving car division of Waymo which will use at least 100 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans for the purpose of developing and studying the self-driving technology that Google is working to bring to the market. This initial order of minivans was placed at the latter part of last year with 500 more on the way to help create an early rider program that will allow free rides to residents of Phoenix, AZ. Those that want to see what self-driving technology will offer can hail a ride by Waymo and watch the minivan at work.

Don’t worry, Waymo is putting a human driver behind the wheel of each of these minivans in case something does go wrong or the minivan can’t solve the driving that needs to be done. The use of the Pacifica minivan will allow Google to bring a mass-produced self-driving vehicle to the public more quickly than if Google were to try and develop a vehicle along with the technology. Using the partnership with Chrysler and the Waymo brand Google will have a leg up in bringing this tech to the roads.

The retiring of the Firefly car makes sense as well because this car has more limitations than what any vehicle we currently drive has on it. The Firefly was limited to 25 mph which is the speed limit in some neighborhoods in the US while most of the roads that we travel allow us to drive much faster during the commute or the drive to where we need to go. The Firefly served its purpose and provided the initial research to be done with regards to self-driving and what Google is working toward creating.

As Waymo moves forward with a fleet in the Phoenix area, we’ll certainly learn more about how close Google is to be ready to unleash its self-driving technology to the public. This program will help move things forward and may be the model for what other car companies need to do in order to partner with technology companies for the tech and the driving expectations that can be met. If you’re in the Phoenix area, hail one of the Waymo Pacifica minivans and see how this current version of the self-driving technology works so that you will have an idea of what’s coming in the future.