Waymo Launches Next-Gen Robotaxi Ojai in Three US Cities

Waymo, the autonomous-driving unit of Alphabet, announced that its next-generation robotaxi, the Ojai, is now open to commercial riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. The vehicle is manufactured by Zeekr, the premium electric-vehicle brand under China's Geely Holding, and is built on Zeekr's SEA-M architecture as a purpose-designed van for driverless operations. Waymo had offered limited free early-access rides of the Ojai starting May 28, 2026, and has now transitioned to full commercial service.

Waymo currently operates about 3,700 Jaguar I-PACE robotaxis alongside the Ojai, with the system automatically matching riders to an Ojai when one is nearby. The company plans to let passengers choose between the two models in the future. US tariffs of roughly 127.5% on Chinese-made EVs, combined with federal connected-vehicle rules taking effect in 2027 that ban Chinese or Russian connected-vehicle and driver-assistance software and hardware, have effectively kept Chinese-brand passenger cars out of the US market. Since 2024, Waymo has imported more than 3,200 Zeekr vehicles through the Port of Los Angeles, including over 2,600 in 2026 alone, all subject to the high tariffs.

Zeekr vehicles arrive in the US with Chinese-made connectivity hardware and sensors removed. Waymo completes final assembly at its Mesa, Arizona, facility with supplier Magna, installing its proprietary sixth-generation autonomous driving system. While the body, battery, and cabin come from Zeekr, the "brain" is Waymo's. The sixth-generation Driver system features 13 cameras, 4 lidar units, and 6 millimeter-wave radars, cutting sensor count by 42% versus the fifth generation and keeping hardware costs under $20,000 per vehicle.

The Ojai's interior is also tailored for driverless operation, with a low-floor flat design, wide sliding doors on both sides, and three rear adaptive screens showing route, music, and climate controls. It includes charging ports, cup holders, armrests, and braille signage for accessibility. As of last week, Waymo had stockpiled nearly 1,000 Ojai units at its Arizona plant, accelerating retrofits and deployments. Waymo currently completes about 500,000 paid rides weekly across more than a dozen US cities, targeting 1 million weekly rides. The company has also launched a new passenger app integrating Gemini, with the Ojai set to expand to Denver, San Diego, and Las Vegas.