Waymo launches Ojai robotaxi with sixth-generation AI in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix

Here Comes Ojai, Waymo's New Chinese-Made Robotaxi

The pale-blue Ojai vehicles will start picking up members of the public in California and Arizona today. There's a new autonomous vehicle in town, or at least in the towns of Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix. Starting today, Alphabet self-driving vehicle developer Waymo will start picking up members of the public in its new Ojai vehicles (pronounced "oh hai") -- pale blue boxy minivans studded with sensors and complete with steering wheels, even though they're designed to travel without drivers. For now, the rides in these new cars, which can be summoned through Waymo's app, will be free. It's been a long road for the vehicle, first announced by Waymo in 2021 and tested on public streets since 2024. It's also a weird time for Waymo: The self-driving-vehicle company, which is trying to expand quickly across the US and the world, shut down service in six US cities last week due to issues with how its vehicles react to flooding. It has also suspended its highway driving program due to concerns about operations near construction zones. WIRED breaks down what's new and interesting about Ojai, and the complex system that powers it. Why? For nearly a decade now, Waymo has tested and deployed its autonomous driving technology in cars designed for human drivers. Waymo began its services with the Chrysler Pacifica hybrid and moved to the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace in 2018. The Ojai, though, is something new: a vehicle built specifically for autonomy. Ojai's debut also marks the introduction of Waymo's newest hardware and software system. The update, Waymo has said, "leverages breakthroughs in AI" and, like previous systems, combines inputs of three different kinds of sensors: cameras, lidar, and radar. Waymo seems to envision the updated tech as the driver (pun intended) behind its big expansion push. The company currently operates in 11 US markets and plans to launch its service in at least 20 different new regions, including London and Tokyo. The system is "designed for long-term growth across multiple vehicle platforms," Satish Jeyachandran, the company's vice president of engineering, wrote earlier this year. He said the new design should allow the company to expand into different environments, including ones with brutal winters -- historically a technical challenge for robots. About the name: Ojai is named after the hippy but upscale Ventura County village known for its arts community. What's Different About This One? Ojai definitely looks different from the Waymos that came before. The cabin is larger and has more legroom than its Jaguar predecessor, and there are charging ports and cup holders. Waymo says the vehicle is more accessible to people with disabilities thanks to flat floors, low step-in height, and grab bars. (The vehicles are not wheelchair-accessible.) Waymo says the vehicle cabin is easier to clean, too. The company says the vehicle's features should speed up its operational efficiency: It's quicker to charge and has a modular design that makes repairs easier. The Ojai is clearly not a normal car, and it is studded with sensors that help it drive on its own: 13 cameras, six radar systems, and four lidar sensors. Who Made This Car? Here's where it gets interesting: The Ojai is a modified version of a "mobility platform" made by leading Chinese new-energy vehicle manufacturer Geely. More specifically, the car's shell is built by Geely sub-brand Zeekr, which has sold cars internationally since 2023 and is now in markets across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Notably absent among Zeekr's markets: the US, where these Ojai vehicles will operate. Waymo says the bare-bones vehicles are manufactured in China and then shipped to Waymo's Arizona facility, where the US-built autonomous systems are added on US soil. Waymo spokesperson Sandy Karp says the company is building toward pumping out tens of thousands of driverless-ready vehicles annually. Wait -- I Thought Chinese Cars Weren't Allowed in the US? This is still (kind of) true. Last January, the Biden administration finalized rules barring Chinese- and Russian-connected vehicle tech from US roads starting in 2027. At the time, the US government said that this foreign-connected-car tech represented a national security threat; it didn't hurt that American carmakers were increasingly threatened by cheap and well-made vehicles manufactured in China. Chinese-made cars are also effectively blocked from the American market by high tariffs. But the prohibitions don't apply to Waymo, the company says, because Zeekr only manufactures the "base vehicle" and doesn't include any telematics or connected software systems, which are added in the US. Still, the autonomous vehicle developer has received flak from politicians for its involvement with Geely and Zeekr. In a February US congressional hearing, one Republican senator criticized the company for "getting in bed with China." Whatever your feelings about the partnership, Ojai's launch will likely give many US riders their first interactions with Chinese-made cars. You Say Rides Are Free? For now, yes. Waymo spokesperson Sandy Karp writes that a period of gratis rides will help the company "gather rider feedback and continue refining the experience." But there's another reason for the free rides, at least in California: Though Waymo has a permit to operate the driverless Ojai vehicles in the state, it doesn't yet have permission to carry paying passengers inside them. That authorization is still being considered by a state regulator, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), which before approving the vehicle asked Waymo to respond to questions about how the company handles unaccompanied minors illegally riding in its cars, plus its approach to major disruptions and natural disasters, like the late 2025 San Francisco power outage that stranded Waymos across the city. The CPUC will make a decision about the Ojai, and about a proposed Waymo expansion into the East Bay and parts of Southern California, by June 27, says CPUC spokesperson Terrie Prosper. "We are awaiting the CPUC's permission to charge fares for those rides," Karp writes. What's Next in the 'Car' Part of Autonomous Cars? Waymo is also preparing to add Hyundai Ioniq 5 models to its robotaxi fleet. The vehicles are part of a partnership between Hyundai and Waymo that dates back to 2024. The Jaguar I-Pace will stick around for a while, too.

Inside Waymo's New Ojai Robotaxi: More Space, Sliding Doors and Smarter AI

Named a Tech Media Trailblazer by the Consumer Technology Association in 2019, a winner of SPJ NorCal's Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2022 and has three times been a finalist in the LA Press Club's National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. Waymo's self-driving vehicles have been roaming the streets in more than a dozen cities. Now, the company is opening the doors of its newest fleet to select passengers. Called the Ojai (pronounced like "Oh, hi"), the modified Zeekr vehicles are boxier and more spacious than the Jaguar I-Pace that Waymo has been using over the last few years. The Ojai has a flat floor, more legroom and higher ceilings, as well as dual-sliding doors that give you more room when entering and exiting the car. Overall, it feels a lot like a roomy van on the inside. The Ojai is equipped with the sixth-generation Waymo Driver, which is designed to handle harsher weather conditions, including snow -- meaning it'll be easier for Waymo to expand to more cities. The sixth-generation self-driving tech can detect more details and gauge objects in a variety of lighting and weather conditions, according to Waymo. Fully autonomous rides in the Ojai are opening up starting in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix, before expanding to more cities later this summer. Riders can express interest in trying out the new vehicle in the Waymo app, which is where they'll be notified when the opportunity becomes available to them. I got an early ride aboard the Ojai in San Francisco. Here's a peek inside. The Ojai is a custom-built, modified vehicle from the Chinese EV company Zeekr. It's more spacious than the Jaguar I-Pace that Waymo has been using for the last several years, and more closely resembles a van. The Ojai, like the I-Pace, can seat up to four passengers. But unlike its predecessor, the Ojai can be modified in the future to remove the steering wheel, so someone can eventually sit in the "driver's" seat, too. Look at all that legroom. The flat floor makes it easier to stretch your legs, too. Some buttons in the Ojai include Braille, which can be helpful for blind passengers who use Waymo to get around. Peep the little wiper on the sensor suite. That can help the Ojai navigate tricky weather conditions, such as rain and snow. The trunk feels big enough to fit all your groceries or even bulkier items like a stroller. You can use the touchscreen to play music, adjust the temperature or contact customer support. Eventually, the Ojai's steering wheel can be removed to seat another passenger.

Waymo stock debuts Ojai robotaxi with 6th-gen tech in three cities By Investing.com

Investing.com - Alphabet Inc.'s Waymo unit said Thursday it will begin offering public rides in its new Ojai autonomous vehicle in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles in the coming weeks, marking the first deployment of a vehicle designed specifically for robotaxi service. The Ojai features elevator-like doors, a flat floor and three large LED screens that allow riders to control temperature and entertainment. The vehicle includes accessibility features such as embedded braille, screen-reader compatibility and a seat-integrated handle for entering and exiting. The robotaxi will run on the 6th-generation Waymo Driver, an evolution of the technology that has completed over 20 million fully autonomous trips across more than 11 cities. The new generation enables operations in snowier conditions and supports expanded service areas. Waymo said it is scaling production of Waymo-enabled vehicles toward tens of thousands of units per year at its factory in Mesa, Arizona. Select riders will receive free trips initially to provide feedback on the vehicle. The company plans to expand the Ojai to Denver, Las Vegas and San Diego before opening the service more broadly later this year. Waymo employees have been taking fully autonomous trips in the Ojai for months before the public rollout. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.