Waymo opens next-gen robotaxi to all riders in LA, Phoenix, San Francisco
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IN SHORT
Alphabet's Waymo has made its new, cheaper robotaxi, the Ojai, available to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The company plans to expand the Ojai fleet and introduce it in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year.
Key Numbers
300Ojai robotaxis in Waymo's commercial fleet
5,000Ojai vehicles expected in the U.S. by end of 2026
725Ojai vehicles imported in July
Who's Involved
Waymo
Alphabet company expanding robotaxi service
Zeekr
Chinese automaker manufacturing the Ojai robotaxi
Geely Holding Group
Owner of the Zeekr brand
Moffett-Nathanson
Research firm tracking Ojai imports
↳ Why This Matters
The introduction of a cheaper, next-generation robotaxi is crucial for Waymo's strategy to achieve mass-scale deployment and profitability in the competitive autonomous vehicle market.
Key facts
Waymo has opened its next-generation robotaxi, the Ojai, to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco.
The Ojai is designed to be cheaper to build, operate, and maintain than previous models.
The vehicle is equipped with Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving system and Google's Gemini AI.
The Ojai is based on a minivan manufactured by Zeekr, a subsidiary of China's Geely Holding Group.
Waymo plans to deploy the Ojai in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year.
Waymo has opened its next-generation robotaxi, the Ojai, to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. This expansion marks a significant step for the Alphabet company as it aims to scale its autonomous vehicle fleet with vehicles that are more cost-effective to produce, operate, and maintain.
Riders in these cities may now be matched with the Ojai when requesting a ride. Eventually, Waymo plans to allow customers to choose between the new Ojai and the existing Jaguar I-Pace robotaxi. Currently, Waymo has approximately 300 Ojai robotaxis in its commercial fleet.
The company announced plans to introduce the Ojai in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year. For years, Waymo has utilized the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace, but the Ojai is intended to facilitate mass-scale deployment and profitability.
The Ojai features Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving system, designed for modularity across different vehicle types, and includes a redesigned user interface with Google's Gemini AI as an in-car assistant. The vehicle itself is a minivan manufactured by Zeekr, a brand under China's Geely Holding Group, built on Zeekr's SEA-M platform designed for robotaxis and delivery vans.
Despite the cost-saving design, import tariffs on vehicles built in China increase Waymo's expenses for each Ojai. These vehicles are shipped without Chinese connected-car technology and are later outfitted with Waymo's self-driving systems at its Arizona factory. Research firm MoffettNathanson estimates Waymo is on track to import 5,000 Ojai vehicles to the U.S. by the end of 2026, more than doubling its current Jaguar fleet.
Frequently asked questions
The new Waymo robotaxi is called the Ojai.
The Ojai is currently available to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco.
The Ojai is a minivan manufactured by Zeekr, a brand owned by China's Geely Holding Group.
The Ojai is equipped with Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving system and Google's Gemini AI.
What Happens Next
01Waymo plans to roll out the Ojai in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year.
How It Developed
Waymo opened its next-generation robotaxi, the Ojai, to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco.
The Ojai is equipped with Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving system and Google's Gemini AI.
The Ojai is a minivan built by Zeekr, a brand owned by China's Geely Holding Group.
Waymo plans to roll out the Ojai in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year.
Research firm MoffettNathanson estimates Waymo is on pace to bring 5,000 Ojai vehicles to the U.S. by the end of 2026.
