GM to deploy thousands of driver-less cars in test fleets

General Motors plans to deploy thousands of self-driving electric cars in test fleets partnering with ride-sharing affiliate Lyft, starting 2018, Reuters reported citing two sources familiar with the automaker's plans.

It was expected to be the largest such test of fully autonomous vehicles by any major automaker before 2020, when several companies had said they planned to start making and deploying such vehicles in higher volumes.

Alphabet Inc's driver-less vehice subsidiary, Waymo, had around 60 self-driving prototypes in four states undergoing tests.

San Francisco-based Lyft, will test specially-equipped versions of the Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle in its ride-sharing fleet in several states, Reuters reported.

GM has no immediate plans to sell the Bolt AV to individual customers.

GM executives have said in interviews and investor presentations during the past year that they intend to mass-produce autonomous vehicles and deploy them in ride services fleets.

However, GM officials have not revealed details of the scale of production, or the timing of the deployment of those vehicles.

In a statement yesterday, GM said, "We do not provide specific details on potential future products or technology rollout plans. We have said that our AV technology will appear in an on-demand ride sharing network application sooner than you might think."