Push For Self-Driving Vehicles Moves Into High Gear

Investing.com - The race for a self-driving vehicle is speeding up.Three recent developments show that the major players in the field are getting closer to the finish line.Waymo, Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)'s self-driving car venture, has ordered thousands of additional Pacifica Hybrid minivans for the launch of its autonomous, ride-hailing service later this year. The new order for the Fiat Chrysler self-driving minivans is on top of Waymo's original order for 600 vehicles specifically for its debut market Phoenix. The new order is for additional cities.General Motors (NYSE:GM) recently applied for government approval for a version of its autonomous Chevy Bolt EV vehicle that has neither a steering wheel nor gas pedal. GM said the vehicle could be deployed as early as next year.And Ford Motor (NYSE:F) acquired a majority stake in the artificial intelligence startup Argo AI for $1 billion dollars. The company will focus on developing software for self-driving vehicles. Ford plans to sell fully self-driving vehicles by 2021.