Waymo Ojai – Waymo is rolling out its new Ojai robotaxi—pale blue, sensor-studded minivans built from a Geely/Zeekr mobility platform in China and fitted with Waymo autonomy systems in Arizona—starting with free public rides in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix. The
A pale blue. boxy minivan with steering wheels—built to drive without a driver—will soon pick up public riders across Los Angeles. San Francisco. and Phoenix. Waymo says the new Ojai vehicles will begin offering rides in the next few weeks. summoned through the Waymo app. and for now those trips will be free.
The timing feels especially sharp for Waymo. Last week, the company shut down service in six US cities after issues in how its vehicles react to flooding. It has also suspended its highway driving program due to concerns about operations near construction zones.
Ojai has been in the works for a while. Waymo first announced the vehicle in 2021, and it has been tested on public streets since 2024. The vehicle’s launch also marks a step into new autonomy hardware and software: Waymo says the updated system “leverages breakthroughs in AI” and. as with previous setups. combines inputs from cameras. lidar. and radar.
The Ojai name comes from Ojai, the hippy but upscale Ventura County village known for its arts community.
What makes Ojai different isn’t just what Waymo is calling its “driverless-ready” design—it’s also what it’s built from. The vehicle is a modified version of a “mobility platform” made by Chinese new-energy vehicle manufacturer Geely. More specifically, the car’s shell is built by Geely sub-brand Zeekr. Zeekr has sold cars internationally since 2023 and now operates in markets across Europe. Asia. the Middle East. and Latin America—with one notable absence: the US.
Waymo says the bare-bones vehicles are manufactured in China and shipped to its Arizona facility, where the US-built autonomous systems are added on US soil. A Waymo spokesperson, Sandy Karp, says the company is building toward producing tens of thousands of driverless-ready vehicles annually.
That may sound straightforward, but it collides with politics in the US auto space. Last January. the Biden administration finalized rules barring Chinese- and Russian-connected vehicle tech from US roads starting in 2027. citing national security threats—while tariffs and market pressures already make it hard for Chinese-made cars to land in the US. Waymo says its situation is different because Zeekr only manufactures the “base vehicle. ” and it doesn’t include telematics or connected software systems. which Waymo says are added in the US.
Still, lawmakers have taken issue with the company’s ties. In a February US congressional hearing, one Republican senator criticized Waymo for “getting in bed with China.” Whatever the arguments, Ojai’s launch will likely bring many US riders their first close-up experience with Chinese-made cars.
Why the rides are free comes down to two reasons, with the California one more urgent. Karp says a gratis period will help Waymo gather rider feedback and continue refining the experience. But in California. Waymo also says it doesn’t yet have permission to carry paying passengers in the Ojai vehicles—even though it has a permit to operate them there. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is still considering that authorization.
The CPUC’s review includes questions about how Waymo handles unaccompanied minors illegally riding in its cars. plus how the company approaches major disruptions and natural disasters. The regulator also pointed to Waymo’s experience during the late 2025 San Francisco power outage that stranded Waymos across the city. The CPUC is expected to make decisions about the Ojai and a proposed Waymo expansion into the East Bay and parts of Southern California by June 27. with a CPUC spokesperson. Terrie Prosper. saying that date.
“We are awaiting the CPUC’s permission to charge fares for those rides,” Karp writes.
Inside the Ojai, Waymo says the cabin is larger than its Jaguar I-Pace predecessor, with more legroom. The vehicles have charging ports and cup holders. Waymo also says the design is more accessible to people with disabilities thanks to flat floors. low step-in height. and grab bars. while noting the vehicles are not wheelchair-accessible. It adds that the cabin is easier to clean. and that features are meant to speed up operational efficiency. including quicker charging and a modular design intended to make repairs easier.
The sensor load is heavy: 13 cameras, six radar systems, and four lidar sensors.
Waymo is not standing still after Ojai. It is also preparing to add Hyundai Ioniq 5 models to its robotaxi fleet. Those 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 as well.
For riders, though, the immediate question is simpler: whether the next few weeks of free rides—and the regulator’s decision coming by June 27—turn this experimental machine into something people can rely on, not just summon.
Waymo Ojai robotaxi autonomous vehicles Geely Zeekr China-made car lidar radar cameras CPUC California Sandy Karp Terrie Prosper Hyundai Ioniq 5 Jaguar I-Pace