The Waymo Ojai robotaxi is moving from internal testing to its first public rider experience.
Waymo says select riders in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles will be able to take free Ojai rides at first. More riders will be added over the coming months. Waymo also names Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego as future expansion cities.
The Ojai is more than a new paint job. Waymo calls it a rider-first platform for fully autonomous ride-hailing. It has elevator-like doors, a low step, a flat floor, and a roomier cabin than the retrofitted cars most riders know.
Video: CNBC
A roomier ride with the next Waymo Driver
Inside, Waymo says the Ojai has three large LED screens, charging conveniences, embedded braille, screen-reader compatibility, and a seat-integrated handle. Those details matter because the vehicle is supposed to feel purpose-built, not converted after the fact.
The technology story is just as important. Ojai is the first vehicle to debut Waymo’s sixth-generation Waymo Driver. Waymo says the system can help it serve snowier cities and scale into more operating areas.
Waymo is trying to scale, not just show off
Waymo says its Driver has handled more than 20 million fully autonomous trips across 11-plus cities. That scale is why every new vehicle platform matters. Tech My Money recently covered how the robotaxi race still has safety and reliability work ahead.
The company is also tying Ojai to manufacturing growth. In a separate Mesa factory update, Waymo said the plant is designed for multiple vehicle platforms. At full capacity, it is meant to support tens of thousands of fully autonomous vehicles per year.
For riders, the early pitch is simple. Ojai is a bigger robotaxi that should be easier to enter and more comfortable once inside. For Waymo, it is the beginning of a more scalable vehicle era.
