The new fleet will replace the 100 or so second-generation vehicles that Argo AI has already deployed. The automaker is currently testing its self-driving cars in four other US cities, including Palo Alto, Pittsburgh, Miami and Washington, D.C. The new vehicles will feature redundant braking and steering systems that will help maintain motion control in the event that a unit stops functioning. They're also equipped with a new computing system with more processing power than the older cars and a new thermal management system that will generate less heat and noise.

The news of Argo AI is expanding its testing comes right as Ford and VW are in talks of a partnership on self-driving cars. VW this week ended its partnership with Amazon-backed self-driving startup Aurora. The German automaker is expected to reach a deal with Ford sometime this summer. Ford this week confirmed that no deal had been reached. "Our talks with Volkswagen continue. Discussions have been productive across a number of areas. We'll share updates as details become more firm," said Ford spokeswoman Jennifer Flake to the Detroit Free Press.