Alphabet launching test of incredibly unsexy self-driving cars

Alphabet’s is launching a big self-driving car initiative – and, as usual, has found the least-sexy way possible to do it.

The Silicon Valley giant’s Waymo startup is mainly known for the small, nerdy-looking, bubble-shaped cars that get into occasional fender-benders around Google’s Mountain View, Calif., campus.

On Tuesday, Waymo said it will begin testing a self-driving car program for hundreds of families in Phoenix, Ariz. — and is buying 500 dowdy-looking Chrysler minivans to make it happen.

That’s in contrast to Tesla, which has used British race-car maker Lotus for its body designs. Last September, Apple was reportedly in talks to buy McLaren, whose high-performance super cars are considered the last word in sleek design.

Meanwhile Waymo, which along with Google is owned by Alphabet, recently has been quietly putting minivans to work as it explores the family side of ride sharing, the company said in a blog post.

It urged people to apply to take part in an expanded test, which is the first public trial of Waymo’s self-driving cars. The vehicles include human operators from Waymo behind the wheel, in case intervention is required and to take feedback.

Silicon Valley is racing to master self-driving technology, betting that it will transform the auto industry and be a gold mine for leading companies.

Despite its decidedly un-sporty image and alliance with Fiat Chrysler, Waymo has one of the best technology track records.

Many companies expect that customers will use autonomous vehicles as a service, rather than owning them outright. Ride service Uber in particular expects to use autonomous cars.

The new Waymo test in Arizona is meant to help the company understand what people want out of self-driving cars and see how they use and integrate the service. Testers will get access every day at any time.

Waymo already has with 100 Chrysler Pacifica minivans and is acquiring five times more, partly to be able to support the service.