Waymo Planning Self-Driving Factory in Michigan

Jan. 2, 2019—Google's self-driving spinoff company, Waymo, has announced it plans to bring a factory to the Detroit area, according to a Reuters report.

The factory, which Waymo describes as the world's first plant that's 100 percent dedicated to the production of autonomous vehicles, should create close to 400 jobs.

The company plans to spend nearly $14 million to retrofit a to-be-determined manufacturing facility in greater Detroit. In exchange, it will be granted a state incentive grant worth up to $8 million that was approved on Tuesday by the Michigan Strategic Fund Board. A Waymo spokesperson told Reuters that the company is searching for a site and hopes to open the plant by the middle of the year.

The company integrates its self-driving system into vehicles it purchases from OEMs and is currently testing autonomous Chrysler minivans in the Phoenix area; it plans to expand the service to the San Francisco area in the near future.

Waymo had previously revealed plans to purchase 62,000 Chrysler Pacificas and 20,000 I-Pace electric SUVs from Jaguar.