Waymo is launching its newest driverless car, dubbed “Ojai.” But the company won’t yet say when you can ride in one.
“We want to do it safely, allowing that to guide our progress, but we anticipate rolling out within the coming weeks,” said spokesperson Sandy Karp.
The launch comes as Waymo has experienced challenges with its Jaguar i-Pace vehicles, which in recent weeks have entered flooded roads during extreme weather in Texas (opens in new tab) and Georgia (opens in new tab). The company also suspended freeway service shortly after a man posted a video (opens in new tab) on X claiming a Waymo he was riding in blasted through construction cones on a freeway and was chased by police.
The Ojai is a front-wheel drive, four-seater EV made by Chinese manufacturer Zeekr, which designed it with Waymo. The car is assembled in China and imported to Phoenix, where Waymo installs the Wi-Fi, bluetooth, and GPS hardware, along with sensors, computers, and other tech needed to make the car into a robotaxi.
Inside the car — which is accessed via doors that slide sideways, to avoid dooring cyclists — are USB Type-C phone charging ports. Large buttons, rather than traditional handles, open the doors. The middle bench seat in the back has a fold-down armrest with two cup-holders. From the back, passengers can move the front seat forward for extra legroom.
A test ride in the Ojai was brief and uneventful, with no freeway driving, obviously. As it pulled away from the Toland Street depot, it trailed another vehicle in a slightly jerky crawl before taking off toward the Mission. It stopped completely at stop signs, never exceeded the speed limit, and went around a double-parked truck with ease. It felt like being in a car with someone taking their driving test, DMV proctor at their right. Basically, it felt like a Waymo.
One of the main benefits is the sixth-generation Waymo driver — the latest iteration — which has new radar, sensors, and little windshield wipers to clean them. The new kit improves driving conditions in inclement weather — key for plans to launch service in Denver (opens in new tab), (opens in new tab)Washington, D.C. (opens in new tab), and other snowy cities. Waymo has been testing them in Las Vegas, Denver, and San Diego. At launch, there will be over 100 Ojais for passenger service, but Waymo didn’t share how many would be in the Bay Area. They will also be used in L.A. and Phoenix.
There are no plans to offer shared rides à la Uber.
Those who are interested in riding in an Ojai can sign up through the Waymo app. If they’re lucky, they might be matched with one of the blue, wedge-shaped robotaxis.
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