Alphabet Inks Deal for Avis to Manage Self-Driving Car Fleet
- Rental car firm will service Waymo vehicles in Phoenix
- Zipcar owner could give Waymo much-needed access to network
Alphabet Taps Avis to Manage Self-Driving Car Fleet
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Waymo, the self-driving car unit of Alphabet Inc., has reached an agreement for Avis Budget Group Inc. to manage its fleet of autonomous vehicles. It’s the first such deal in a field that’s still fledgling but exploding with partnerships. Avis shares surged.
The rental car firm will service and store Waymo’s Chrysler Pacifica minivans in Phoenix, where the parent of Google is testing a ride-hailing service with volunteer members of the public. Waymo will own the vehicles and pay Avis for its service, an arrangement that is set for multiple years but not exclusive. The companies would not share financial terms.