Waymo began offering public rides in its next-generation Ojai robotaxi fleet across three U.S. cities on May 28, 2026 [1], [4].
The deployment represents a shift toward purpose-built hardware designed to lower operational costs and increase passenger capacity. By moving away from modified consumer vehicles, Waymo aims to scale its autonomous ride-hailing service more efficiently while integrating its latest software capabilities.
The new fleet is now available to the public in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix [1], [2]. These three cities serve as the initial launch grounds for the Ojai vehicle, which is based on a Zeekr minivan platform [1], [3].
According to the company, the Ojai is equipped with the sixth-generation Driver software [3]. This updated system is intended to handle complex urban environments with greater precision than previous iterations. The vehicle itself is described as roomier than earlier models, offering more space for passengers during their trips [1], [3].
Waymo said that the Ojai is ready for “prime time” as it enters the public market [1]. To encourage adoption and gather data during the initial rollout, the company is offering rides in these vehicles for free for now [4].
This rollout follows years of testing and iterative hardware updates. The transition to a dedicated robotaxi chassis allows the company to optimize the placement of sensors and compute hardware, reducing the bulk often seen in early autonomous prototypes.
“Waymo began offering public rides in its next-generation Ojai robotaxi fleet”
The launch of the Ojai signifies Waymo's transition from the prototyping phase to a commercial scaling phase. By utilizing a purpose-built vehicle rather than retrofitting existing cars, the company is attempting to solve the economic challenge of autonomous ride-hailing through lower per-unit costs and improved passenger utility. The integration of sixth-generation software suggests a push for higher reliability in dense urban centers, which remains the primary hurdle for widespread autonomous adoption.
