Waymo’s new Ojai robotaxi is cheaper to build, harder to break, and made in China
TL;DR
Waymo has opened its sixth-generation Ojai robotaxi to select riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. Built by Geely’s Zeekr in China, the Ojai cuts sensor count by 42% and costs roughly $75,000 less per unit than the Jaguar I-PACE it replaces.
Waymo has started offering rides to select passengers in its new Ojai robotaxi, the first vehicle purpose-built for autonomous ride-hailing rather than retrofitted from an existing car. The Ojai runs on Waymo’s sixth-generation Driver system and is built on a platform manufactured by Zeekr, the electric vehicle brand owned by China’s Geely, the same conglomerate that owns Volvo. Rides are initially available in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, with San Diego, Las Vegas, and Denver expected to follow this summer.
The Ojai replaces the Jaguar I-PACE that has served as Waymo’s primary robotaxi since 2020. It is a boxier, roomier vehicle with a lower...
Copyright of this story solely belongs to thenextweb.com. To see the full text click HERE
