Waymo Opens Zeekr Ojai Robotaxi Service to All Riders in California
The expansion marks the first time US riders can access a Chinese-made electric vehicle through a commercial robotaxi fleet.
Waymo has expanded access to its Zeekr-based robotaxi service in Ojai, California, allowing all riders to book rides in the Chinese-made electric vehicles through its app.
What Happened
The Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company opened its Zeekr XV60 vehicles to the general public in Ojai, moving beyond earlier limited testing phases. The expansion enables anyone with the Waymo One app to request a ride in one of these specifically designed robotaxi vehicles.
Why It Matters
This development represents a significant milestone as it marks the first deployment of Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles in a commercial autonomous ride-hailing service on US roads. For consumers, it demonstrates growing acceptance of foreign-built EVs in critical transportation applications and may influence future vehicle sourcing decisions across the industry.
The Bottom Line
Waymo's decision to deploy Zeekr vehicles commercially reflects broader trends in EV adoption and could set precedents for how autonomous services integrate internationally manufactured vehicles into their fleets.
