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In light of the announcement that Google has partnered with Fiat Chrysler to build 100 autonomous minivans, a debate is heating up – what's the rush in engineering self-driving vehicles?

Autonews reporter Larry P. Vellequette argues that despite the hype surrounding increased safety, greater technological capabilities and major partnerships such as the one between Google and FCA, we're forgetting about something critical.

The future of truck drivers.

According to Vellequette, 3.5 million US truck drivers hit the road every day and they rely on a pay packet totalling $40,000 per year based on data collated by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In addition, Vellequette says that the most widely held job in 29 of the 50 US states in 2014 was truck driving.

So if major investment in autonomous driving goes ahead, what will that mean for the US economy and indeed other global markets once the race heats up?

It doesn't look promising.

At the core of projects such as the engineering of the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans will cost companies like the Google and the FCA billions of dollars, while for truck drivers, the rush for autonomy will cost them a livelihood.

Is it worth it?

Vellequette's full story was published on Autonews here.

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