Waymo has opened its next‑generation robotaxi, the Ojai (pronounced oh‑hi), to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The move represents a significant step for the Alphabet‑owned company as it seeks to expand a fleet built to be cheaper to manufacture, operate, and maintain.
How the rollout works
In the three cities named, customers may be matched with an Ojai when they hail a ride; once Waymo has a larger number of Ojais in service, riders will be able to choose between the new vehicle and the older Jaguar I‑Pace robotaxi. A company spokesperson said there are about 300 Ojai robotaxis in Waymo’s commercial fleet today.
Waymo also said it plans to introduce the Ojai later this year in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego.
Technology and business rationale
For years Waymo relied on modified, all‑electric Jaguar I‑Pace models for its robotaxi fleet, which now operates in 11 U.S. cities. While the sensor‑dense Jaguar became familiar in markets such as San Francisco, it has been more of a transitional platform as Waymo pursues wider scale and eventual profitability.
The Ojai is intended to advance those objectives. It carries Waymo’s sixth‑generation self‑driving system, a key element of the company’s commercial strategy because it is modular and designed to operate across multiple vehicle types. The robotaxi also features a redesigned user interface and Google’s Gemini AI, which functions as an in‑car assistant for riders.
Manufacturing partner and logistics
Beneath the self‑driving technology, the Ojai is a minivan manufactured by Zeekr, a brand owned by China’s Geely Holding Group. Waymo partnered with Zeekr in 2021 and has spent years testing prototypes and production‑intent versions. The vehicle is built on Zeekr’s SEA‑M platform, an updated Sustainable Experience Architecture designed for vehicles like robotaxis and delivery vans. The platform aims to deliver a vehicle that is attractive and accessible for riders, yet inexpensive to build, simple to maintain, and durable enough for near‑constant use.
Base Zeekr vehicles are shipped without Chinese connected‑car technology; after arriving in the United States they are sent to Waymo’s Arizona facility, where Waymo integrates its self‑driving system.
Tariffs and costs
Import tariffs add to the cost of bringing Ojais into the United States. Under current U.S. trade policy, vehicles built in China face steep import duties, increasing Waymo’s per‑vehicle expense for each Ojai it imports.
Fleet expansion projections
Research firm MoffettNathanson, which tracks Ojai imports by analyzing detailed shipping receipts, estimates Waymo is on pace to bring about 5,000 Ojai vehicles to the United States by the end of 2026. That would be more than double Waymo’s current Jaguar fleet. In July alone, 725 Ojai vehicles entered the country, highlighting the scale and speed of Waymo’s expansion efforts.
Why it matters
The Ojai rollout signals Waymo’s shift toward a lower‑cost, scalable robotaxi fleet that could support broader commercial deployment. However, import tariffs and logistics tied to overseas manufacturing remain factors that will affect the program’s ultimate cost structure and the speed of nationwide deployment.
