Waymo by Google

Google's Waymo is going to test a self-driving van program for hundreds of families in Phoenix. Waymo is quietly testing the service and is now expanding the test, buying 500 Chrysler minivans and making them self-driving. There will be human operators from Waymo behind the wheel, for safety and to take feedback.

The goal is to give participants access every day, at any time, to go anywhere within an area that's about twice the size of San Francisco. Many companies expect that customers will use autonomous vehicles as a service, rather than owning them outright. Ride-hailing service Uber in particular expects to use autonomous cars, which the CEO said will be crucial to the company's future.

The Waymo test is meant to help understand what people want out of self-driving cars and see how they use and integrate the service.