Renault-Nissan, Google to partner on self-driving cars

The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance plans to cooperate with Google to develop autonomous taxis and other services using self-driving vehicles, the Nikkei newspaper reported.

Google’s self-driving car company Waymo will work with the automakers and announce a plan for the arrangement as early as this spring, the business daily said.

The partners are considering the joint development of unmanned taxis using Nissan vehicles and a system that handles reservation and payments, Nikkei said.

“This (Nikkei) story is based on rumors and speculation. We have nothing to announce,” an alliance spokesman said in response to the report, Automotive News reads.

Last month, Nissan said its board remained committed to the automaker’s alliance with Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, after directors met to discuss the ongoing investigation into former Chairman Carlos Ghosn and ways to bolster governance.