Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and Google, Inc. have signed a deal that will see both companies working together to develop self-driving vehicles.

Under the deal, Fiat Chrysler will build 100 2017 Pacifica plug-in hybrid minivans that are tailored to suit Google’s self-driving technology, with the vehicles to then join Google’s fleet of self-driving test vehicles, which currently includes the Lexus RX450H, Toyota Prius, and Google’s own “Google Car” prototype.

According to Bloomberg the deal isn’t exclusive and Google “would remain free to cooperate in driverless technology with other partners.”

“This collaboration with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is the first time we’ve worked directly with an automaker to create our vehicles,” the Google Self-Driving Car team said in a post on Google+. “FCA will design the minivans so it’s easy for us to install our self-driving systems, including the computers that hold our self-driving software, and the sensors that enable our software to see what’s on the road around the vehicle.”

“The minivan design also gives us an opportunity to test a larger vehicle that could be easier for passengers to enter and exit, particularly with features like hands-free sliding doors,” the writer of the post added.

The new self-driving Pacifica vans will initially be tested by Google on its private test track in California before making their way to public roads in current testing locations including Mountain View, California; Austin, Texas; Kirkland, Washington; and Phoenix Arizona.

Big car testing

Along with nearly doubling Google’s self-driving car fleet, the new Pacifica’s will allow the company to test how self-driving technology works with larger vehicles; in theory there should be very little difference, but likewise, the programming will need to take into account the height and weight difference of the bigger vehicle, particularly when it comes to things such as acceleration and stopping time.

The selection of the Pacifica, an 8 seat “people mover” could also point to a driverless future where people are picked up and dropped off by fully autonomous vehicles; the concept of Google as a transport or taxi company may be the stuff of science fiction now, but so were self-driving cars a little over a decade ago.

It’s not clear from reports when the new vehicles will be delivered.

Image credit: Google.