Google and Fiat Chrysler aren't sure who owns self-driving car data
They're also unsure if they'll open their car code to others.
Google and Fiat Chrysler left a lot of questions unanswered when they unveiled their self-driving car partnership... and that's because they haven't answered some of those questions themselves, apparently. Fiat Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne told guests at an event that the two companies have yet to decide who will own the data from the fleet of 100 autonomous Pacifica minivans. The vehicles need to be "viable" first, he says. He adds that the firms have yet to decide whether or not they'll offer open source code that would help others build self-driving technology.
Nonetheless, Marchionne is optimistic. Based on his experiences, he believes that practical self-driving cars will be ready in 5 years, not the 20 that some have predicted. "It isn't pie in the sky," the CEO claims. He's also suggesting that the partnership could grow once the self-driving minivan is on the road. Think of this as just a start, then -- you may see a lot more in the pipeline.
