Google taps Avis to manage its driverless car fleet

Google’s self-driving car company Waymo has struck a deal with Avis Budget Group to help manage its driverless car fleet, Bloomberg reported Monday.

The partnership with the rental car firm, which is the first of its kind, comes as auto and technology companies race to develop and test autonomous vehicles. Members of Congress are also exploring legislative steps to speed up their deployment.

{mosads}Avis will store Waymo-owned Chrysler Pacifica minivans in Phoenix, Ariz., where Google started a pilot program to test a driverless ride-hailing service with public volunteers.

Waymo will pay Avis for its service, according to the report, but the companies would not share financial terms. The deal was inked for multiple years, though it is not exclusive.

Shares for Avis surged in the wake of the news.