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Geely manufactures Waymo Zeekr Ojai robotaxi in China with 6th-gen autonomous hardware
Monday, March 2, 2026 at 04:39 AM
Waymo and Geely are collaborating on the Zeekr Ojai robotaxi minivan being manufactured in China, featuring Waymo's 6th-generation Driver sensor and compute suite.
Context
Geely has begun manufacturing the Ojai robotaxi, a purpose-built electric minivan, for Waymo at its facilities in China. This new vehicle is the first to integrate Waymo’s 6th-generation autonomous driving hardware, which officially entered fully autonomous operation for employees in San Francisco and Los Angeles in February 2026. By leveraging a "subtraction" design philosophy, the new system reduces the total sensor count by 42%, utilizing just 13 cameras, 4 lidars, and 6 radar units while delivering superior resolution through a breakthrough 17-megapixel imager.
The transition to the Ojai platform is a critical turning point for Alphabet's self-driving unit as it targets aggressive expansion into 20 additional cities throughout 2026. The 6th-gen hardware is engineered for high-volume production, with Waymo scaling its Arizona facility to assemble tens of thousands of sensor kits annually. By manufacturing the base vehicle in China via Zeekr and performing final tech integration in the U.S., the partnership optimizes unit economics and weather resilience while navigating complex geopolitical supply chain requirements.
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