Waymo has started commercial rides in its new Ojai electric robotaxi for public users in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
Chinese-built EV with US self-driving tech
The Ojai is a **purpose-built robotaxi based on a Zeekr electric vehicle** from Geely’s premium EV brand. The cabin is designed like a compact van with a flat floor, wide doors and generous legroom and headroom to make it easier for multiple passengers to get in and out.
Passengers get individual screens, charging ports and accessibility-focused features, making it more user-friendly than a regular converted car.
Sixth-generation Waymo Driver
While the base EV comes from Zeekr, Waymo fits its sixth-generation Waymo Driver system, combining cameras, lidar and radar to run the vehicle without a human driver. The company says this new hardware uses fewer sensors and costs less than the previous setup, helping scale up its fleet.
Ojai vehicles are currently dispatched when one is available nearby, and Waymo expects to add more units and deploy the Ojai in Denver, San Diego and Las Vegas later this year, alongside its existing Jaguar I-PACE robotaxis.
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