Waymo opens next-generation robotaxi to all riders in three US cities

Waymo has made its next-generation autonomous vehicle available to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. This development marks a significant step for the Alphabet subsidiary as it seeks to broaden its fleet with vehicles that are less expensive to construct, operate, and maintain. Customers in these markets may now be matched with the new robotaxi, known as the Ojai, when they request a ride. Once the company has secured a sufficient number of these vehicles, riders will have the option to select between the new model and the older Jaguar I-Pace robotaxi. A company spokesperson confirmed that approximately 300 Ojai robotaxis are currently part of the commercial fleet.

The company announced on Wednesday that it intends to introduce the Ojai in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year. For several years, Waymo has depended on the all-electric, modified Jaguar I-Pace for its operations across 11 US cities. Although the white, sensor-equipped autonomous hatchback has become a common sight in markets such as San Francisco, it has largely served as an interim solution in Waymo’s long-term strategy to achieve mass scale and eventual profitability. The Ojai is designed to fulfil that ambition by offering a more sustainable platform for future growth.

The vehicle is equipped with Waymo’s sixth-generation self-driving system, a feature that is central to the company’s commercial strategy due to its modular design and compatibility with multiple vehicle types. The robotaxi also features a redesigned user interface and Google’s Gemini AI, which functions as an in-car assistant for passengers. Beneath this technology, the Ojai is a minivan manufactured by Zeekr, a brand owned by China’s Geely Holding Group. Waymo has partnered with Zeekr since 2021, spending years testing prototypes and production-intent versions of the vehicle. It is built on Zeekr’s SEA-M platform, an updated version of the automaker’s Sustainable Experience Architecture, which was designed for vehicles such as robotaxis and delivery vans. The objective was to create a vehicle that is appealing and accessible to riders, while remaining cost-effective to build and durable enough for near-constant use.

While the Ojai meets many of these goals, tariffs on imported vehicles have increased costs. Under current US trade policy, vehicles built in China face steep import tariffs, which raises the expense for every Ojai brought into the country. The base Zeekr vehicles arrive without Chinese connected-car technology. After entering the US, they are sent to Waymo’s Arizona factory, where they are fitted with the self-driving system. New York-based research firm MoffettNathanson, which tracks Ojai imports by examining detailed receipts of shipped goods, stated that Waymo is on pace to bring 5,000 Ojai vehicles to the United States by the end of 2026. This figure would be more than double Waymo’s current Jaguar fleet. In July alone, 725 Ojai vehicles entered the country, highlighting the scale and pace of the company’s expansion efforts.