Overview
- Waymo began offering paid Ojai rides to the general public in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix on Wednesday, expanding the vehicle beyond earlier limited trials.
- A company spokesperson says roughly 300 Ojais are in commercial service now, while independent trackers and MoffettNathanson report thousands of Zeekr chassis have been imported and estimate about 5,000 Ojais could arrive by the end of 2026.
- The Ojai is built by Zeekr and shipped to the U.S. without Chinese connectivity or sensors, then Waymo installs its own sensor and compute suite during final assembly at a Mesa, Arizona facility to comply with tariffs and connected-vehicle rules.
- Waymo’s sixth-generation Driver runs on a smaller, higher-resolution sensor package (about 13 cameras, four lidars, six radars) that the company says cuts hardware cost to under $20,000 and adds software features such as a Gemini-powered in-car assistant.
- The minivan design offers a flat floor, sliding elevator-like doors, more cabin space for wheelchairs and multiple passengers, and Waymo plans additional rollouts to cities including Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego as regulators expand its California service area.