Intel, Waymo, Expand Self-Driving Car Collaboration

Intel says it is expanding its relationship with Google spinoff Waymo in the development of self-driving cars. The world's largest computer chipmaker said Monday it will take on a more collaborative role with Waymo's new self-driving Chrysler Pacifica minivans. Intel will continue to supply technology for the autonomous driving project.

Waymo's Chrysler Pacifica fleet is fit with Intel Corp. technology for sensor processing, general computing and connectivity.

No financial details of the deal between Intel and Waymo were announced.

Waymo spun off from Google late last year and is an independent company owned by Google parent Alphabet Inc.

Intel, based in Santa Clara, California, recently acquired Israel's Mobileye, a leader in software that integrates autonomous car sensors. BMW, Intel and Mobileye announced an autonomous vehicle partnership last year.

Last week, Waymo said critical new evidence it recently obtained in a trade secret lawsuit against Uber means a US judge should postpone a trial of the case set to begin next month.

Waymo claimed in a lawsuit earlier this year that former engineer Anthony Levandowski downloaded more than 14,000 confidential files before leaving to set up a self-driving truck company, which Uber acquired soon after.

Uber has denied using any of Waymo's trade secrets. Jury selection in San Francisco federal court is scheduled to begin on October 10.

For months, Waymo had been seeking to obtain a 2016 due diligence report that Uber had completed prior to obtaining Levandowski's company. Waymo hoped it would shed light on what Uber knew about Levandowski's downloads, and when Uber knew them.

Written with agency inputs