Waymo has officially introduced its latest robotaxi, a purpose-built, all-electric minivan known as the Ojai, to select riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. This rollout marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategy to scale its autonomous fleet while reducing operational costs. Currently, the company is offering a limited number of complimentary rides to gather user feedback and refine the vehicle’s performance before a broader public expansion.

The Ojai is the result of a strategic partnership with Zeekr, a brand under China’s Geely Holdings. While the vehicle’s foundation is built on the SEA-M architecture, the final product is heavily modified at Waymo’s Arizona facility. Each unit is integrated with the company’s sixth-generation autonomous system, which utilizes a modular design featuring 13 cameras, four lidar sensors, and six radar units. This modularity is central to Waymo’s future plans, as the same technology is intended to be deployed across other vehicle platforms, including the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 5.

Designed specifically for the demands of high-frequency ride-hailing, the Ojai features a flat floor, low step-in height, and sliding doors to improve accessibility. The interior is optimized for both durability and passenger comfort, incorporating easy-to-clean surfaces, increased legroom, and adaptive screens that allow riders to manage climate, music, and navigation. These design choices are intended to streamline maintenance and enhance the overall experience for the hundreds of thousands of passengers the company serves weekly.

This launch arrives as Waymo navigates a period of operational adjustments, including temporary service pauses in several cities to address challenges related to construction zones and weather-related infrastructure issues. Despite these hurdles, the introduction of the Ojai represents a shift toward a more sustainable and scalable business model. By moving away from its current fleet of Jaguar I-Pace vehicles toward this specialized hardware, the company aims to significantly increase its annual production capacity and solidify its position in the competitive autonomous transport market.