American ride-hailing operator Waymo has brought its most ambitious vehicle yet into rotation: the purpose-built Ojai (pronounced: oh-hi), its sixth-generation robotaxi made in China. Rides are currently free, but not for long.
All of Waymo’s previous autonomous vehicles were regular consumer cars converted into robotaxis: a Chrysler Pacifica minivan, the Volvo XC90, and then a Jaguar i-Pace. These cars required significant engineering compromise.
Sister model to the Mix
But the Ojai is something else. Developed in partnership with premium electric vehicle brand Zeekr, the van is introduced as a commercial ride-hailing platform from the outset. That’s more or less the case, because there is still a link with the electric vehicle Zeekr commercializes in China: the Mix MPV.
But the practical differences with the i-Pace fleet are apparent. The interior features a low step-in height, a flat floor, elevator-style sliding doors, grab bars, and braille markings on the seat handles. These details reflect how a public transport company approaches accessibility for its customers rather than automotive styling.
The modular design is even intended to simplify cleaning and maintenance between rides. Three passenger screens, two at the rear and one at the front, allow riders to track their route and adjust the cabin environment.
Do more with less
Beneath its boxy exterior, the Ojai carries Waymo’s sixth-generation Driver autonomous system. By the company’s own account, the sensor array has been reduced by 42% compared with the fifth-generation hardware: 29 cameras have become 13, and five lidars have become four.
That reduction seems counterintuitive but is, in fact, intentional. The new 17-megapixel cameras outperform standard automotive-grade optics in dynamic range and low-light sensitivity. In other words, the system does more with less.
There is another capability that shouldn’t be underestimated: the sixth-generation system can operate in snow. Waymo’s previous deployments were confined to warm-climate cities like Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles because the technology struggled in winter conditions. But due to the enhanced operations mode, Chicago is being mapped, while international expansion, including London and Tokyo, has been confirmed.
Sustainable business
Fewer sensors also mean lower cost. The target Waymo has set for the hardware is below $20,000 per vehicle. That figure is important. It represents the point at which the economics of running a large autonomous fleet begin to become genuinely viable. It should lift the startup from a proposition fueled by risk capital – and ‘fingers crossed’ mentality – to a sustainable business.
The Ojai’s physical structure – chassis, battery, drive motors – is manufactured by Zeekr at its facility in Ningbo, China. The vehicles are shipped to the United States stripped of all telematics and connected software (which is also a legal requirement for Chinese technology in the U.S.) and arrive at Waymo’s assembly facility in Mesa, Arizona. These so-called ‘base vehicles’ are then equipped with Waymo’s own sensors, computing hardware, and communications systems.
Free rides
Waymo started offering rides in its new Ojai robotaxi across San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix last week. The pale blue vans drew the usual mix of fascination and unease that tends to follow driverless vehicles wherever they go. The rides are currently free. That is not, as it might appear, a customer acquisition strategy.
The California Public Utilities Commission has not yet authorized Waymo to charge fares for the new vehicle; a decision is expected by 27 June. If approval comes through, the economics of the sixth-generation platform will face its real commercial test. With 20 million rides completed, Waymo is the leading company in driverless ride-hailing in the U.S.
