Waymo's New Robotaxi Hits the Streets, Built by a Chinese Company
Waymo has started giving select riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco access to its newest robotaxi: an all-electric, minivan-like vehicle that is designed to lower costs and handle the use and abuse of hundreds of thousands of riders.
A Chinese-Made Minivan with a Modular Design
Waymo said Thursday it will eventually expand access to the vehicle, a modified Zeekr-made minivan called the Ojai (pronounced oh-hi), to more riders and cities. For now, the Alphabet-owned company is offering a limited number of customers free rides in the Ojai to gather feedback and further refine the robotaxi experience.
The launch of the Ojai comes after years of development and testing — all in the pursuit of creating a vehicle that is accessible, comfortable, easy-to-maintain, and that importantly costs less to build and operate.
Features Aimed at Pleasing Riders
- A flat floor, low step-in height, and gondola-like doors on both sides for easier entry and exit
- Charging ports, cup holders, increased leg and head room, grab bars, braille above various buttons
- Three large adaptive screens, where customers can access the route, change music, control climate, and provide rider tips
A Modular Design for Increased Efficiency
The Ojai is equipped with Waymo's sixth-generation system — including 13 cameras, four lidar sensors, six radar units, and an array of external audio receivers. That sixth-generation system is the keystone to Waymo's commercial strategy because it's designed to be modular. This means it can be applied to multiple kinds of vehicles, including two that have already been announced, the Zeekr minivan and the Hyundai Ioniq 5.
A Significant Step Towards Scale and Revenue Generation
The launch of the Ojai comes amid a challenging time for Waymo, which recently suspended robotaxi service on freeways in Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, and San Francisco to improve how its vehicles behave in construction zones. However, this new robotaxi gives the company a real chance at scale and revenue generation.
A Partnership with Zeekr
While the vehicle is loaded with Waymo's hardware and software, its foundation comes from Zeekr, the brand owned by China's Geely Holding Group. The companies partnered in 2021 and showed off a concept of the purpose-built robotaxi in late 2022. Waymo has spent nearly two years testing the prototype, and later a production-intent version of the vehicle on public roads.