Intel Corp. has gained yet another ally in its push to become a leader in technology for self-driving cars.

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V., the world’s seventh-largest automaker, today joined an initiative led by the chip giant and BMW AG to develop autonomous vehicles. The companies have previously brought British car supplier Delphi Automotive plc into the fold to help with development efforts. Their objective is to start producing semi- and fully autonomous vehicles by 2021, the same time frame targeted by rivals such as Ford Motor Co.

The group is making fast progress. A week ago, Intel announced plans to launch a test fleet of more than 100 autonomous vehicles that will start hitting public roads sometime later this year. They are set to incorporate technology that the company has obtained through the recently completed acquisition of Mobileye.

As part of the development roadmap, Intel plans to add multiple different car brands and vehicle types to the fleet. There’s a good chance that the lineup will be bolstered with Fiat Chrysler models in the wake of today’s partnership. Since the stated goal is to show that Mobileye’s technology works with a wide range of automobiles, the off-road vehicles from Fiat Chrysler’s Jeep brand could emerge as a particularly big focus point for the partnership.

Intel and its allies eventually hope to develop cars possessing so-called Level 5 autonomy. This is the classification used by the U.S. Department of Transportation for vehicles capable of driving as well as a human under all environmental conditions, a capability that currently exists only in theory.

Fiat Chrysler’s entry should further the project in several ways. Besides bringing vast operational resources to the table, its participation should also give Intel valuable momentum at the competitive level. The chip maker must establish strong alliances in the auto industry if it is to become a major technology supplier to tomorrow’s autonomous vehicles.

This is especially important since competitors are pursuing a similar strategy. Google Inc.’s Waymo unit, for example, struck a partnership of its own with Fiat Chrysler earlier this year to deploy about 100 self-driving minivans.

Image: Fiat Chrysler