Waymo has enabled all riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix to request an autonomous Ojai vehicle, beginning commercial operations of the platform after rides had been limited since May 28, 2026, to a free early-access program. Riders will be matched with an Ojai vehicle when one is available nearby, while Waymo will later allow them to choose between it and its existing fleet of Jaguar I-PACEs.
A Chinese Vehicle That Cannot Be Purchased in the United States
The Ojai is based on a Zeekr vehicle, the premium electric brand owned by China’s Geely Holding Group, and is built on the SEA-M platform, while the body was designed in Sweden. Waymo imports these vehicles into the United States despite tariffs imposed on Chinese electric vehicles, which amount to approximately 127.5% according to the article.
According to the article’s report citing Forbes, Waymo has brought more than 3,200 Zeekr vehicles into the United States through the Port of Los Angeles since 2024, including more than 2,600 vehicles that arrived during 2026 alone. Zeekr, BYD, and other Chinese electric vehicles remain unavailable for direct sale to American consumers amid the tariffs and forthcoming federal regulations.
How Does the Ojai Comply with U.S. Rules?
The vehicles arrive in the United States without Chinese communications and sensing hardware, after which Waymo adds its own computing and sensing package, designed in the United States. Final assembly is carried out at Waymo’s facility in Mesa, Arizona, in cooperation with supplier Magna. As a result, components such as the body, battery, and cabin remain from Zeekr, while Waymo is responsible for the core driving and communications systems.
This arrangement comes before the U.S. Commerce Department’s connected-vehicle rule takes effect in 2027. The rule bans certain communications and driver-assistance hardware and software originating from China or Russia.
A Design Tailored to Robotaxi Use
Zeekr designed the Ojai as a purpose-built robotaxi, rather than as an ordinary car modified later. The vehicle includes a flat floor, a low step-in height, and wide side doors, along with increased headroom and legroom. The cabin also contains three screens for controlling navigation, music, and climate, as well as charging ports, cup holders, grab bars, and Braille labels to support accessibility.
The vehicle uses the sixth generation of the Waymo Driver system, equipped with 13 cameras, four lidar units, and six radar units. This represents a 42% reduction in the number of sensors compared with the fifth generation, while Waymo said hardware costs had fallen below $20,000 per vehicle.
What Does This Mean for Waymo’s Expansion?
Waymo is counting on the Ojai to reduce the cost of expanding its fleet. The company had equipped nearly 1,000 of them at its Arizona factory, with hundreds of vehicles being converted and prepared for deployment alongside approximately 3,700 Jaguar I-PACEs. Waymo currently conducts approximately 500,000 paid rides per week in around 12 cities and is targeting one million rides per week.
Ojai rides are scheduled to begin for selected users in Denver, San Diego, and Las Vegas, with additional cities to be added later during the year. Waymo also announced new features at the same time, including Gemini in Waymo and an updated rider app. The development practically highlights that robotaxi services could benefit from a relatively low-cost Chinese electric vehicle even after tariffs are included, as long as equipping it with autonomous-driving systems costs less than the vehicles it replaces.