Support CleanTechnica's work througha Substack subscription,on Patreon, oron Stripe. Help us produce all of thehigh-quality, original content we publish week after weekdespite the challenges of content-scraping AI, antisocial media, inflation, and other hurdles.Chinese electric vehicles are basically all but banned in the United States. Nonetheless, Waymo has brought in a few thousand Zeekr-based Ojai electric robotaxis.
There are 102.5% tariffs on Chinese produced EVs, including these Ojai robotaxis. However, these were custom designed for Waymo’s robotaxi service over several years. So, tariffs or not, this is what Waymo is using.
What does that mean in terms of actual price? Reportedly, the vehicle chassis clocks in at roughly $38,000–38,500. With a 102.5% tariff, that makes the vehicle cost up to about $78,000. (Then there’s also the Waymo Gen 6 hardware cost, estimated to be about $25,000. However, this is a rough estimate that also doesn’t include installation cost.)
More than 2,600 deliveries have taken place in 2026. This month, approximately 500 Ojai vehicles have been seen at a Waymo facility in Arizona.
“The Ojai is built by Zeekr, Geely Group’s electric vehicle brand, in Ningbo, China. The vehicle is also identified by its CM1e codename in customs and industry records,” CarNewsChina shares. “The customs records do not identify Waymo as the consignee. The Ojai entered the Waymo fleet and began public rides in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles in 2026.”
The model uses an 800V electrical system and includes a 93 kWh battery. At the relatively low speeds the vehicles will be driving, that should provide a lot of range between charges. A big, unique feature designed specifically for robotaxi use is the sliding door in the middle of the vehicle, with no B pillar making it extra easy to get in and out of the vehicle.
The initial concept vehicle was shown in 2022. It was called the M-Vision back then.
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