New Vehicle Introduction
After several months of internal testing, Waymo has reached the stage where it will allow non-employee passengers to ride in its newest vehicle, the Zeekr RT minivan rebranded as Ojai. This marks a deliberate step forward in the company's robotaxi program, moving beyond controlled environments into actual passenger service. The decision reflects the company's assessment that the vehicle has met necessary safety and operational benchmarks for broader exposure.
Rollout Strategy and Timeline
Waymo plans to begin offering access to select riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. The initial phase will involve gradual expansion, first increasing the number of participants within these cities before extending to additional locations. All early trips will be provided at no cost, allowing the company to gather detailed feedback on passenger experience with the new vehicle before implementing paid services.
Fleet Transition Considerations
The current Waymo fleet consists of Jaguar I-Pace vehicles equipped with fifth-generation autonomous technology introduced in March 2020. These vehicles have now reached the end of their operational shelf life according to company standards. The shift to the Ojai minivan represents a necessary equipment update rather than an optional upgrade, driven by the practical limitations of maintaining an aging fleet for commercial robotaxi operations.
