Waymo is rolling out a purpose-built robotaxi that ditches the luxury sedan approach for a stripped-down minivan designed specifically for ride-hailing operations. The new vehicle, called the Ojai and built on Geely's Zeekr platform, represents a significant shift in how the company thinks about autonomous vehicles: less about impressing passengers with leather seats and more about operational efficiency and accessibility.

How Does the Ojai Compare to Waymo's Original Jaguar Fleet?

Waymo's original robotaxis were Jaguar I-PACE luxury SUVs equipped with custom sensors. The Ojai takes a radically different approach. While the I-PACE feels like a premium ride, the Ojai strips away the luxury trappings in favor of practical design choices that make fleet operations easier and more cost-effective.

The sensor configuration has been optimized as well. Waymo reduced cameras from 29 to 13 and LiDAR units from five to four, while keeping six radars. Despite the reduction, the technology remains highly capable. The sensors are also better integrated into the vehicle's body, eliminating the crown-like sensor stack that sits atop the Jaguar.

Inside, the differences are stark. The Ojai features basic cloth seats instead of leather, plastic flooring instead of carpet, and hard plastic throughout. There are no seatback pockets, which Waymo says reduces the likelihood of lost items. What the Ojai does have are practical amenities like cupholders and three large touchscreens for navigation, music, temperature control, and seat adjustment.

What Design Features Make the Ojai More Accessible?

One of the Ojai's most significant improvements is accessibility. The vehicle has a lower step-in height and sliding doors that Waymo can close remotely, eliminating the need for staff to manually shut doors. This is a major operational win; in one memorable case, an I-PACE was disabled by a door misaligned by just one inch.

The Ojai also includes large grab bars by the doors and braille on door controls. The sliding doors provide an unexpected safety benefit for cyclists: they prevent "dooring," the dangerous collision that occurs when a car door opens into a cyclist's path. As bike lanes become more common in cities, this design choice addresses a real public safety concern.

The vehicle offers exceptional legroom, with enough space to comfortably accommodate even very tall passengers. A full-sized trunk provides room for luggage, a feature notably absent from Amazon's competing Zoox robotaxi. The ride quality is smooth thanks to full-width tires that absorb road imperfections better than narrower alternatives.

Why Are Cities Like Chicago Pushing for Waymo Approval?

Beyond the vehicle itself, cities are recognizing the safety case for autonomous vehicles. Chicago's editorial board recently called on Illinois legislators to authorize driverless vehicles, citing Waymo's safety record as a compelling reason to act quickly.

Waymo has compiled extensive data from five cities covering more than 220 million fully autonomous miles through March 2026. The numbers are striking: compared to human drivers in the same areas over the same period, Waymo vehicles were involved in 94% fewer crashes causing serious or fatal injuries, 82% fewer crashes in which an airbag deployed, and 82% fewer crashes involving any reported injury.

"The Waymo Driver was involved in 94% fewer crashes causing serious or fatal injuries, 82% fewer crashes in which an airbag deployed, and 82% fewer crashes involving any reported injury," stated David Margines, Waymo product management director.

David Margines, Product Management Director at Waymo

The safety advantage extends to vulnerable road users. Waymo experienced 93% fewer injury-causing crashes involving pedestrians, 84% fewer involving cyclists, and 84% fewer involving motorcyclists. These figures matter in cities like Chicago, where a cyclist was recently killed in a door-opening accident that Waymo's sensors and design would likely have prevented.

What Are the Practical Benefits for Different Riders?

• Parents with newborns: Waymo has discovered that many parents choose to bring newborns home from the hospital via Waymo, viewing it as the safest option for a baby's first ride.
• Women and safety-conscious riders: Some riders prefer Waymo because there is no human driver, eliminating concerns about interactions with male drivers and providing a private, controlled environment.
• Blind passengers and people with mobility limitations: The vehicle's accessibility features, including grab bars, braille controls, and lower step-in height, make it easier for people with disabilities to use the service independently.
• Teenagers: Parents can send teenagers on errands or to activities without hiring a human driver, though Waymo restricts unsupervised minors except in a Phoenix pilot program.

What Challenges Are Waymo Vehicles Still Facing?

Despite the safety data, Waymo robotaxis have encountered operational challenges and public friction. The vehicles have been recalled to fix problems like driving into highway construction zones, across flooded roadways, and into obstacles like chains and telephone poles.

Noise complaints have also emerged. In Santa Monica, residents near Voltera charging stations complained about round-the-clock beeping and humming as Waymos pulled in for the night. The complaints were loud enough that Santa Monica officials demanded the lots cease operations between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., leading to lawsuits between the city and Waymo.

Waymo has also faced criticism for aggressive driving behavior. The company recently reprogrammed its vehicles to drive "more confidently assertive," a change that has resulted in the vehicles making jerky turns and nudging into traffic in ways that feel rude to human drivers, even if technically safe.

A Swiss Re study, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, found that Waymo's self-driving cars were involved in far fewer claims than human drivers, with an 88% reduction in property-damage claims and a 92% reduction in injury claims over 25.3 million autonomous miles. However, public perception lags behind the data. When Waymos are involved in accidents, it's almost always the other driver's fault, yet the incidents generate outsized media attention.

What Does Waymo's Expansion Strategy Look Like?

Waymo is taking a measured approach to new cities, carefully selecting markets where demand is high and local governments are receptive. The company already operates in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami, and is present in six of the U.S. World Cup host cities. London and Tokyo are next, followed by Detroit.

In Chicago, Waymo plans to start with a footprint from the South Loop to Wrigleyville, the areas where it predicts demand will be highest. The company has been "mapping" Chicago, a training phase where vehicles drive around the city to build detailed maps and understand local driving patterns.

"The technology that collects data and makes our vehicles autonomous, the software, sensors, and computing systems, is developed in the US. Waymo installs the autonomous driving technology on stripped-down, disconnected OEM-provided vehicles in our Arizona manufacturing facility," explained Sandy Karp, Waymo spokesperson.

Sandy Karp, Spokesperson at Waymo

Pricing is expected to be similar to rideshare services, with demand-based pricing to manage wait times. Waymo argues that its fixed fleet and precise vehicle location data allow for more accurate wait time estimates than traditional rideshare apps. There is no tipping required, a feature that appeals to budget-conscious riders.

The Ojai represents Waymo's confidence that autonomous vehicles are moving beyond novelty into mainstream transportation. With more than 100 Ojais in the fleet compared to thousands of I-PACEs, the company is betting that practicality and operational efficiency will drive adoption faster than luxury and comfort ever could.