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May 28, 20261
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Waymo launches Chinese-made Ojai robotaxi in major US cities
Waymo has launched the Ojai, a Chinese-made autonomous minivan built by Zeekr, offering free rides to select customers in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. The vehicle is equipped with Waymo's sixth-generation autonomous system and designed to reduce costs and improve passenger comfort through features like accessible doors and durable interiors. Waymo plans to scale production to tens of thousands of units annually.
Quick Facts
Who
Waymo
What
launched robotaxi service with Ojai minivan
When
May 28, 2026
Where
Los Angeles
- launched robotaxi service with Ojai minivan
- suspended freeway services for improvements
- paused services in Atlanta and San Antonio
- offering free rides to gather feedback
- scaling toward tens of thousands of units annually
Waymo has begun offering select riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco access to its newest robotaxi, the Ojai, an all-electric minivan designed to reduce operational costs and improve passenger comfort. The vehicle, manufactured by Chinese automaker Zeekr and owned by Geely Holdings, represents a significant step toward making autonomous vehicles commercially viable at scale. Waymo is currently providing free rides to a limited number of customers to gather feedback, with plans to expand access to additional riders and cities.
The Ojai is built on Zeekr's SEA-M architecture, a platform designed specifically for future mobility products like robotaxis and logistics vehicles. The minivan was designed in Sweden and is outfitted at Waymo's Arizona factory with the company's sixth-generation autonomous system, which includes 13 cameras, four lidar sensors, six radar units, and external audio receivers. This modular system is designed to work across multiple vehicle types, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5, another vehicle Waymo has announced for its fleet.
The vehicle features passenger-focused amenities including gondola-style doors on both sides for accessibility, a flat floor with low step-in height, charging ports, cup holders, grab bars, braille labeling, and three adaptive screens for controlling route, music, climate, and tipping. Its design emphasizes durability and maintenance efficiency, with an easier-to-clean interior, modular components, and increased battery capacity to reduce long-term operational costs.
Waymo's launch comes after the company suspended robotaxi services on freeways in Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, and San Francisco to improve performance in construction zones, and paused operations in Atlanta and San Antonio due to flooding-related issues. The Ojai launch represents a potential turning point for the company, which has been testing autonomous vehicles for nearly two years on public roads. Waymo currently operates approximately 3,700 Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in its fleet and provides over 500,000 paid robotaxi rides weekly, demonstrating the commercial demand for autonomous transportation services.
Topics
Why This Matters
This launch marks a critical inflection point for autonomous vehicle commercialization. By partnering with Chinese manufacturer Zeekr and deploying purpose-built robotaxis at scale, Waymo is addressing the core economic challenge that has limited robotaxi adoption: reducing per-vehicle costs while improving passenger experience. The Ojai's modular design, accessibility features, and planned production scale demonstrate that autonomous mobility is transitioning from expensive niche services to scalable transportation infrastructure. For consumers, this means more affordable and convenient autonomous ride options; for cities, it represents potential reduction in traffic congestion and emissions.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2021
WireWaymo and Zeekr partnership begins
May 28, 2026
WireWaymo launches Ojai robotaxi service in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco