Waymo Autonomous Vehicle, 2018

Open

Waymo autonomous vehicle in front of Chandler City Hall

Chandler is one of the national hubs for both development and testing in the autonomous vehicle industry. Waymo, which began in 2009 as the Google self-driving car project, stands for a new way forward in mobility with a mission to make it safe and easy for people and things to move around.

Waymo selected Chandler as one of four initial test sites, establishing a facility in Chandler to maintain and analyze a fleet of self-driving prototype vehicles. The Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan makes up the bulk of Waymo’s fleet in Chandler. The minivan was Waymo’s first vehicle mass-produced with the self-driving technology fully-integrated. Chandler also served as the proving grounds for Waymo’s early rider program, their first public trial.  With its success, Waymo One commercial service began in 2018.

Other companies in Chandler are also involved in the autonomous vehicle industry including Intel, Microchip Technology, General Motors, Garmin, Rogers Corporation, and more.