Waymo has opened its next-generation robotaxi, called the Ojai, to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco, marking a major step toward scaling its autonomous vehicle fleet and reaching profitability. The company currently operates about 300 Ojai vehicles in its commercial fleet and plans to expand to Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year.

What Makes the Ojai Different From Waymo's Current Robotaxis?

For years, Waymo has relied on the all-electric Jaguar I-Pace, a modified hatchback that has become a familiar sight in cities like San Francisco. While the white, sensor-laden vehicle proved that autonomous ride-hailing could work, it was always meant as a temporary solution. The Ojai represents Waymo's long-term vision for mass-market robotaxis.

The Ojai is built on a minivan platform made by Zeekr, a brand owned by China's Geely Holding Group, and comes equipped with Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving system. This modular system is designed to work across multiple vehicle types, which is critical to the company's commercial strategy. The vehicle also features a redesigned user interface and Google's Gemini AI, which acts as an in-car assistant for riders.

How Does Waymo's Expansion Strategy Work?

• Fleet Composition: Customers in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco may be matched with the new Ojai when they hail a ride, and once Waymo has enough in its fleet, riders will be able to choose between the new vehicle and the older Jaguar I-Pace.
• Geographic Rollout: The company plans to introduce the Ojai in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later in 2026, expanding its presence across major U.S. markets.
• Production Scale: Research firm MoffettNathanson estimates Waymo is on pace to bring 5,000 Ojai vehicles to the United States by the end of 2026, more than double its current Jaguar fleet, with 725 vehicles entering the country in July alone.

The goal behind the Ojai is straightforward: create a robotaxi that is attractive and easy for riders to access, but also cheap to build and maintain and durable enough to withstand near-constant use. The vehicle is built on Zeekr's SEA-M platform, an updated version of the automaker's "Sustainable Experience Architecture," which was specifically designed for vehicles like robotaxis and delivery vans.

What Are the Cost and Tariff Challenges?

While the Ojai promises lower operating costs than the Jaguar I-Pace, Waymo faces a significant headwind: tariffs on imported vehicles. Under current U.S. trade policy, vehicles built in China face steep import tariffs, which raises Waymo's costs for every Ojai it brings into the country. The base Zeekr vehicles arrive in the U.S. without any Chinese connected-car technology, and are then sent to Waymo's Arizona factory, where they are outfitted with the self-driving system.

Despite these tariff pressures, the sheer volume of imports underscores Waymo's confidence in the Ojai's potential. The company's ability to scale production to 5,000 vehicles by year-end suggests that even with tariff costs factored in, the economics of the Ojai are significantly better than the Jaguar I-Pace model. This shift is essential for Waymo's path to profitability, as the company has long argued that robotaxis can only become economically viable at scale.

The launch of the Ojai across three major markets represents a turning point for Waymo. After years of relying on a single vehicle platform, the company is now demonstrating that its self-driving technology is flexible enough to work across different vehicle types. With plans to expand to three additional cities and a production pipeline that could deliver thousands of vehicles by year-end, Waymo is positioning itself to move beyond the pilot phase and toward the mass-market robotaxi service it has long promised.