Google, Fiat To Open Self-Driving Car Development Centre

Silicon Valley giant Google and its self-driving car partners Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles have started work on the autonomous driving technology that could shape the future of cars and will soon open a development centre near Detroit, Michigan.

The new office in Novi, a suburb of Detroit will serve as Google's base for its self-driving research division according to a statement issued by John Krafcik, the CEO of Google's Self Driving Cars division.

In a post on Google+, Krafcik wrote, "For the past few years, members of our team have been working from the Greater Detroit area. Now it's time to lay down roots: we're establishing a self-driving technology development center in Novi, MI."

"Many of our current partners are based here, so having a local facility will help us collaborate more easily and access Michigan's top talent in vehicle development and engineering. At this 53,000 sq ft development center, our engineers, working with local partners, will further develop and refine self-driving technology.'

One of the first major tasks that will be tackled by the new research and development centre in Novi will be to ready the self-driving versions of the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans.