Japanese car-maker Toyota is to collaborate with taxi and ride-sharing firm Uber on self-driving cars.
The two companies have agreed to expand their partnership, with the aim of advancing and bringing to market autonomous ride-sharing.
To do this, technology from each company will be integrated into purpose-built Toyota vehicles to be deployed on Uber's network.
Toyota is also investing US$500m (€427m) in Uber.
Source: Toyota Motor Corporation
Shigeki Tomoyama is the executive vice president of the Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC).
"Combining efforts with Uber, one of the predominant global ride-sharing and automated driving R&D companies, could further advance future mobility," he said.
"This agreement and investment marks an important milestone in our transformation to a mobility company as we help provide a path for safe and secure expansion of mobility services like ride-sharing that includes Toyota vehicles and technologies."
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi (left) and Shigeki Tomoyama of the Toyota Motor Corporation | Image: Toyota Motor Corporation/Rikki Ward Photography
Uber's CEO Dara Khosrowshahi added: "The deal is the first of its kind for Uber, and signals our commitment to bringing world-class technologies to the Uber network.
"Our goal is to deploy the world's safest self-driving cars on the Uber network, and this agreement is another significant step towards making that a reality.
"Uber's advanced technology and Toyota's commitment to safety and its renowned manufacturing prowess make this partnership a natural fit. I look forward to seeing what our teams accomplish together."
The initial fleet will be based on Toyota's Sienna Minivan platform.
Uber's Autonomous Driving System and the Toyota Guardian automated safety support system will both be integrated into vehicles.
Pilot-scale deployments will begin on the Uber network in 2021.
While Toyota's investment in Uber and the proposed collaboration are subject to regulatory approvals.
Uber had halted earlier trials of self-driving cars in the wake of a fatal crash.
Elaine Herzberg (49) died after being hit by the car, which was in autonomous mode, while wheeling her bike across a road in Arizona back in March.
