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Economy

Waymo opens cheaper next-generation robotaxi service to all riders in three cities

Waymo opened its next-generation Ojai robotaxi to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco on Wednesday, giving customers access to a vehicle designed for lower build, operating and maintenance costs.

Source: TechCrunch · August 20, 2026 at 1:01 AM · AI-assisted report

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KUALA LUMPUR, 20 AUGUST 2026 —

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Waymo opened its next-generation Ojai robotaxi to all riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco on Wednesday, giving customers access to a vehicle designed for lower build, operating and maintenance costs.

The company said Wednesday it has about 300 Ojai robotaxis in its commercial fleet, according to a spokesperson. Riders may still be matched with older Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis while Waymo scales the Zeekr-built Ojai supply. Once the fleet reaches sufficient size, customers will be able to choose between the two models.

Waymo said it plans to launch the Ojai later this year in Denver, Las Vegas and San Diego, expanding the service to six U.S. cities.

For years Waymo relied on modified Jaguar I-Pace electric sedans across 11 U.S. cities. The stopgap vehicle supported early commercial operations while Waymo developed a purpose-built robotaxi aimed at mass scale and eventual profitability.

The Ojai is built on Zeekr’s SEA-M platform and uses Waymo’s sixth-generation self-driving system, which is modular and designed to work across multiple vehicle types. The cabin features a redesigned user interface and Google’s Gemini AI as an in-car assistant.

Zeekr, owned by China’s Geely Holding Group, began supplying the Ojai in 2021 after prototype testing. The vehicle targets rider accessibility, durability for near-constant use, and lower build and maintenance costs than the Jaguar I-Pace.

Import tariffs on Chinese-built vehicles have raised costs. U.S. trade policy applies steep tariffs to imports from China, though Zeekr ships base models without Chinese connected-car technology. After arrival, Waymo installs its self-driving system at an Arizona factory.

New York-based research firm MoffettNathanson estimates Waymo will bring 5,000 Ojai vehicles to the U.S. by the end of 2026—more than double the current Jaguar fleet. The firm recorded 725 Ojai imports in July alone.

Related: Google

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Reporting based on TechCrunch. Figures and claims are subject to revision as the story develops. DomainFork publishes editorial context, not investment advice — see our editorial standards.