Waymo rolls out new Ojai robotaxi in three U.S. cities

Waymo has begun offering select riders trips in its newly designed Ojai robotaxi across San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix [1]. The electric minivan, built by Zeekr and retrofitted with Waymo’s sixth‑generation autonomous‑driving system, is being deployed as a free‑ride pilot while the company gathers feedback and prepares for broader rollout.

Key takeaways

• The Ojai replaces Waymo’s Jaguar I‑Pace fleet with a purpose‑built electric minivan featuring a flat floor and larger cabin space [1].
• It carries Waymo’s sixth‑generation driver hardware—13 cameras, four lidars, six radars—and a modular sensor suite designed to lower production costs [2].
• Initial deployment includes 100 Ojai vehicles in the three cities, with plans to expand to additional markets later this summer [1].
• The vehicle offers accessibility features such as braille labels, grab bars, and low step‑in height for riders with disabilities [3].
• Waymo is testing the Ojai with free rides for a limited group of riders while it scales toward tens of thousands of units annually [2].

New purpose‑built robotaxi enters service

Waymo’s Ojai is the first robotaxi built from the ground up for autonomous operation rather than being a retrofitted consumer car. The minivan’s interior is described as “cavernous,” with a flat floor, a foot more rear legroom than the Jaguar, and enough space to accommodate six suitcases during a test ride [1]. Passengers can control climate, music, and route information on three large adaptive screens, and the vehicle includes charging ports, cup holders, and easy‑to‑clean surfaces [2].

The Ojai’s hardware platform reflects Waymo’s push for cost efficiency. While the earlier Jaguar fleet used five lidars, six radars and 29 cameras, the Ojai’s sensor suite has been reduced to four lidars, six radars and 13 cameras, a change Waymo attributes to a new high‑dynamic‑range camera that extends visual range in both low‑light and bright conditions [1]. The company says this streamlined sensor package helps lower manufacturing and maintenance costs while maintaining capability, especially in snowy environments [1].

Expansion plans and operational context

Waymo plans to grow the Ojai fleet beyond the initial 100 vehicles, eventually adding the model to cities such as San Diego, Las Vegas and Denver later in the summer [1]. The company’s broader strategy includes scaling production to tens of thousands of units annually, first with the Ojai and later with other models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 [2]. This rollout comes as Waymo addresses recent service suspensions in several markets to improve performance in construction zones and flood‑prone areas [2].

Why it matters

The Ojai marks a strategic shift for Waymo, moving from retrofitted luxury SUVs to a purpose‑built, lower‑cost vehicle that can accommodate higher passenger volumes and diverse rider needs. By offering free rides to select users, Waymo can collect real‑world data to refine the experience and demonstrate accessibility features, positioning the company for broader commercial scaling. The next steps will involve expanding the Ojai to additional cities and integrating the vehicle into Waymo’s growing autonomous fleet, a move that could influence the economics of robotaxi services nationwide.