TL;DR
Waymo has renamed the Zeekr RT robotaxi to Ojai (pronounced "oh-hi") as it prepares the vehicle for commercial service in its fleet. The van, developed with Geely-owned Zeekr and displayed at CES 2026, retains its sensor suite but has received cosmetic tweaks and continued city testing.
What happened
Waymo announced that the robotaxi previously referred to as the Zeekr RT will be rebranded as Ojai, pronounced "oh-hi." The change comes as the vehicle moves closer to joining Waymo's commercial fleet; employees and their guests can already hail the van in San Francisco and Phoenix as part of late-stage testing. The vehicle was developed through a partnership with Zeekr, a Geely Holding Group brand, and was first previewed as a concept in 2022 built on Zeekr's SEA-M architecture. The version shown at CES 2026 kept the same sensor package reported earlier — multiple cameras, lidar and radar units, external audio sensors and small sensor wipers — but now includes a steering wheel and a revised paint finish that shifts from a bluish tint to a more silver tone. Waymo said the rebrand reflects low U.S. familiarity with the Zeekr name and could shape rider perceptions.
Why it matters
- A distinct vehicle name may influence marketing, rider recognition and public acceptance ahead of broader deployment.
- Retaining a robust sensor suite underscores Waymo's continued focus on hardware redundancy for safety and operations.
- Late-stage testing with employees typically signals progress toward commercial availability in new service areas.
- The renaming highlights the role of brand familiarity in U.S. adoption of foreign automotive partners.
Key facts
- New name: The Zeekr RT robotaxi is now called Ojai, pronounced "oh-hi."
- Name origin: Ojai is named after a village in the Topatopa Mountains known for arts and wellness, per Waymo.
- Partnership: The vehicle was developed in partnership with Zeekr, a unit of Geely Holding Group; that collaboration began in 2021.
- Prototype history: A concept version was shown in 2022 based on Zeekr's SEA-M architecture for mobility products.
- Sensor suite: The vehicle features 13 cameras, four lidar units, six radar sensors, external audio receivers and small sensor wipers.
- Design updates: The CES 2026 version includes a steering wheel and a changed paint color moving from a bluish tint to more silver.
- Testing status: Waymo employees and their family and friends can hail the vehicle in San Francisco and Phoenix during testing.
- Operational footprint: Waymo currently operates commercial robotaxi services in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco.
What to watch next
- Whether and when Waymo will open Ojai to the general public beyond employee testing: not confirmed in the source.
- Timing and schedule for the planned expansion into roughly a dozen additional cities over the next year; Waymo has said expansion targets include Denver, Las Vegas and London.
- How the Ojai's rider experience (including the reported "Oh hi" greeting) is deployed in public service and whether it becomes standard: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Robotaxi: A passenger vehicle equipped to drive itself without a human driver, operated commercially to transport riders.
- Lidar: A sensor technology that uses laser light to measure distances and create detailed 3D maps of the environment.
- SEA-M architecture: A vehicle platform referenced by Zeekr intended for future mobility products; denotes a modular electric architecture.
- Zeekr: An automotive brand owned by Geely Holding Group focused on electric vehicles and related mobility platforms.
Reader FAQ
Why did Waymo rename the Zeekr RT to Ojai?
Waymo told TechCrunch the U.S. public is not familiar with the Zeekr brand, and the rebrand aims to address that perception.
How is Ojai pronounced?
Waymo says Ojai is pronounced "oh-hi."
Will the Ojai greet riders with "Oh hi" and their name?
Waymo indicated the vehicle will greet riders with "Oh hi" and their name, per the company; broader rollout details are not confirmed in the source.
When will the Ojai be available to the public?
Not confirmed in the source.
What sensors and hardware does the Ojai include?
Reported equipment includes 13 cameras, four lidar units, six radar sensors, external audio receivers and small sensor wipers; the CES 2026 model also includes a steering wheel.
Waymo has spent the past three years refining and testing a minivan-like vehicle made by Chinese automaker Zeekr. And now, before this robotaxi joins Waymo’s official commercial fleet, it’s getting…
Sources
- Waymo is rebranding its Zeekr robotaxi
- Waymo's New Zeekr-Built Robotaxi Emerges Ahead of …
- Here's Waymo's New Autonomous Taxi From Zeekr, …
- Waymo is starting robotaxi testing in three more cities
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