Waymo to begin passenger rides in its new Ojai robotaxi | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.Waymo to begin passenger rides in its new Ojai robotaxiNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TransportationCloseTransportationPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TransportationNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsAutonomous CarsCloseAutonomous CarsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All Autonomous CarsWaymo to begin passenger rides in its new Ojai robotaxiThe new minivan, which is made by China’s Zeekr, uses fewer sensors than the company’s Jaguar robotaxis. It also represents the debut of Waymo’s sixth generation technology.The new minivan, which is made by China’s Zeekr, uses fewer sensors than the company’s Jaguar robotaxis. It also represents the debut of Waymo’s sixth generation technology.by Andrew J. HawkinsCloseAndrew J. HawkinsTransportation editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew J. HawkinsMay 28, 2026, 3:00 PM UTCLinkShareGiftPhoto by Andrej Sokolow/picture alliance via Getty ImagesAndrew J. HawkinsCloseAndrew J. HawkinsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew J. Hawkins is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.After several months of testing, Waymo is finally ready to invite non-employee passengers into its newest vehicle, the Zeekr RT minivan, which has been rebranded as Ojai. Waymo says it will begin offering “select riders” access in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, before “gradually” expanding to more riders and cities. Trips will be free to start out, as Waymo collects data about the passenger experience in the new vehicle. Paid rides will follow.Waymo’s current fleet of Jaguar I-Pace vehicles runs on the company’s fifth generation technology, first rolled out in March 2020. But that vehicle has reached the end of its shelf life, after Jaguar discontinued the model at the end of 2024. The Ojai will be the debut of the sixth generation system, followed by the Hyundai Ioniq 5. Waymo is also partnering with Toyota for future models.It’s been nearly four years since Waymo first debuted the Zeekr minivan as its next, purpose-built autonomous ridehail vehicle. It’s the second ground-up design that Waymo has unveiled after the original Firefly, the iconic tiny bubble car that was retired in 2017.Waymo partnered with Chinese automaker Geely to design the purpose-built, passenger-first autonomous vehicle. Geely owns automakers like Volvo, Lotus, and Polestar, as well as a stake in the luxury British automaker Aston Martin. The company makes luxury vehicles mostly for the Chinese market. This would seem to represent an obstacle for Waymo, given the high tariffs and restrictions against importing vehicles with Chinese software. But Waymo has said the vehicles it imports from Zeekr have been stripped of any connected software, sidestepping the ban.Waymo says that its sixth-generation system is the smartest, most capable autonomous vehicle it’s ever designed, while also using fewer sensors to lower its overall costs. Its cameras are more powerful, its lidar are able to see things the cameras might miss, and its improved radar are able to tackle extreme weather conditions. But more importantly, its built for “high-volume production,” with Waymo’s manufacturing partners able to churn out “tens of thousands of units a year.”The Ojai/Zeekr vehicle features a more expansive cabin, increased leg room, three large screens, charge ports, and cupholders.. The vehicle can accommodate up four passengers, but Waymo says its more accessible than its previous vehicles, with a flat floor and low-step height for easier entry, instructions in braille, and grab bars. The Ojai will also be easier to maintenance and clean, with faster EV charging and increased battery capacity.The announcement comes at the end of a rough couple weeks for Waymo. The Alphabet-owned suspended freeway driving across all of its cities out of concerns about how its vehicles reacted to construction zones. The pause came after several of the company’s robotaxis were spotted driving through flooded roads at elevated speeds in Texas, forcing Waymo to issue a software recall for its entire fleet, including its sixth generation vehicles.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew J. HawkinsCloseAndrew J. HawkinsTransportation editorPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew J. 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Waymo is initiating passenger rides in its new vehicle, the Zeekr RT minivan, rebranded as the Ojai robotaxi, marking the debut of the company's sixth-generation autonomous technology. This new vehicle, developed in partnership with the Chinese automaker Zeekr, employs fewer sensors compared to Waymo's Jaguar robotaxis, a design choice intended to reduce overall costs while enhancing capability. The development reflects a significant design shift, as Waymo collaborated with Geely, a company owning brands like Volvo and Lotus, to create this purpose-built, passenger-first autonomous vehicle.

The sixth-generation system is positioned as the smartest and most capable autonomous vehicle Waymo has ever designed, incorporating advanced sensory technology. This advancement involves more powerful cameras, lidar systems capable of detecting details missed by cameras, and improved radar that enables operation in extreme weather conditions. Critically, the design prioritizes high-volume production, allowing manufacturing partners to produce tens of thousands of units annually. The physical design of the Ojai minivan features an expanded cabin with increased legroom, three large screens, dedicated charge ports, and cupholders. Furthermore, the vehicle is designed for accessibility, featuring a flat floor, low-step entry, braille instructions, and grab bars, aiming to improve ease of maintenance and cleaning. The vehicle also benefits from faster electric vehicle charging and increased battery capacity.

Waymo plans a phased rollout for passenger service, beginning with "select riders" access in major cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Initially, these trips will be offered free of charge to gather extensive data on the passenger experience before transitioning to paid services. This development follows a period of internal review for Waymo, stemming from concerns regarding fleet behavior in construction zones and subsequent software recalls for its autonomous vehicles, requiring a pause in operations. This latest platform represents the second ground-up design initiated by Waymo after their original Firefly vehicle, and it builds upon the fifth-generation technology used in their current Jaguar I-Pace fleet.