tech
Waymo's cheaper, next-gen robotaxi is now open to all riders in these three cities
The next-generation robotaxi, called the Waymo Ojai, is central to the company's push towards mass scale, and eventually, profitability.
TL;DR
- Waymo's next-generation robotaxi, the Ojai, is now fully available to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco.
- The Ojai is designed to be cheaper to build, operate, and maintain, supporting Waymo's goal of mass scale and profitability.
- It utilizes Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving system and Google's Gemini AI as an in-car assistant.
- The Ojai is a minivan manufactured by Zeekr, a subsidiary of China's Geely Holding Group, built on the SEA-M platform.
- Import tariffs on vehicles built in China increase the cost of the Ojai for Waymo.
- Waymo plans to roll out the Ojai in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year.
- Research indicates Waymo is projected to import 5,000 Ojai vehicles to the U.S. by the end of 2026.