Waymo launches Ojai, a purpose-built autonomous robotaxi made by Chinese manufacturer Geely, in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix

Starting today, Waymo is offering free rides in the Ojai, a vehicle designed specifically for autonomous operation and built by Geely sub-brand Zeekr. The Ojai features a larger cabin than Waymo's previous Jaguar I-Pace, with flat floors, low step-in height, and grab bars for accessibility, though it is not wheelchair-accessible.

The Ojai combines a mobility platform manufactured in China by Zeekr with autonomous systems—13 cameras, six radar systems, and four lidar sensors—added in Waymo's Arizona facility. Waymo says the bare-bones vehicles are manufactured in China and shipped to Arizona for the US-built autonomous hardware to be integrated.

Though Waymo has a permit to operate driverless Ojai vehicles in California, it does not yet have permission to carry paying passengers. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will decide on paid-passenger approval and a proposed Waymo expansion into the East Bay and parts of Southern California by June 27. Waymo currently operates in 11 US markets and plans to launch service in at least 20 different new regions, including London and Tokyo.