Waymo unveils the Ojai, its first purpose-built robotaxi designed from the ground up for rider experience and accessibility, built on Zeekr’s platform with Waymo hardware in an Arizona facility, featuring a spacious cabin, three rear passenger screens, multiple charging ports, cup holders, flat floor, low step-in height, braille markings, grab bars, and other accessibility touches.

Initial free-rides rollout will target select users in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco, with expansion planned to Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego; New York and Boston are not included in the first wave.

Ojai runs on Waymo’s 6th-generation Driver, anticipated to perform better in snowy conditions and to lower overall sensor counts while boosting capability.

Regulatory and political tensions around Chinese-made auto tech persist in the U.S., including debates over safety and security and a potential 2027 ban on certain foreign-connected tech.

Waymo paused freeway rides and recalled thousands of vehicles amid safety and flooding-related concerns, as the company works to fix bugs with the new system.

Earlier this month, Waymo halted operations in two cities over flooded-road incidents and recalled roughly 4,000 cars after safety issues, including incidents where vehicles failed to stop for school buses.

The pauses follow broader reliability challenges, including construction-zone behavior and flooding, which Waymo is addressing as it pursues expansion.

Waymo asserts its Driver yields dramatically fewer serious crashes than human drivers, claiming a 92% reduction under similar conditions and a 13x lower rate of serious injury or fatal crashes.

The 6th-gen Driver reduces sensor count by about 42%—from 29 cameras to 13, five lidars to four, and fewer radars—while aiming for a unit cost under $20,000 to support scalable economics.

Ojai uses the 6th-generation software with a leaner sensor suite, achieving cost efficiency and improved integration.

The Ojai platform is Zeekr-based, reflecting Geely collaboration, with Waymo hardware and software integrated into a production-intent minivan designed around Zeekr’s SEA-M architecture.

Interior highlights include a music/climate control touchscreen, customer support features, and a weather-resilient sensor suite with a small rain/snow wiper for navigation.