Waymo has officially opened public access to its newest robotaxi, the Ojai, giving select riders in several major U.S. cities the chance to experience the company’s first purpose-built autonomous vehicle for free.
The Alphabet-owned autonomous driving company announced this week that riders in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix can now sign up through the Waymo app as “Trusted Testers” to request complimentary rides in the Ojai ahead of a broader commercial launch later this year. Waymo also confirmed it plans to expand access to Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego before the end of 2026.
Unlike Waymo’s previous autonomous fleet, which relied heavily on modified consumer vehicles like the Jaguar I-PACE, the Ojai was designed from the ground up specifically for driverless ride-hailing. The result is a vehicle that looks and functions far differently from a traditional passenger car.
Our fleet is expanding! ✨ Meet Ojai, powered by our sixth-gen Waymo Driver. Welcoming riders soon in LA, Phoenix, and San Francisco. pic.twitter.com/JwZYYj1qoi
— Waymo (@Waymo) May 28, 2026
Waymo says the Ojai was built around rider comfort and accessibility. The robotaxi features a flat floor, low step-in height, and elevator-style sliding doors intended to make entry and exit easier. Inside, passengers are greeted by three large LED displays that allow riders to control audio, climate settings, and other trip preferences.
The company also incorporated several accessibility-focused features directly into the design, including braille markings, screen-reader compatibility, and seat-integrated support handles for riders needing additional assistance.
Beyond the redesigned exterior is Waymo’s new sixth-generation autonomous driving system. The updated hardware dramatically reduces the number of sensors required compared to earlier versions. The system now uses 13 cameras instead of 29 and cuts lidar units from five to four.
The simplified hardware setup is expected to significantly reduce costs while improving the vehicle’s ability to operate in challenging weather conditions, including heavy rain and snow.
Waymo is reportedly targeting hardware costs below US$20,000 per vehicle, a major step toward making large-scale autonomous ride-hailing economically viable.
Production of the Ojai is being handled by Chinese automaker Geely, while Waymo’s manufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona is being expanded to support production volumes reaching tens of thousands of vehicles annually.
The company says approximately 100 Ojai vehicles are already operating within its roughly 4,000-vehicle fleet, but that number is expected to grow rapidly in the coming months.
Waymo also revealed its autonomous ride service has now surpassed 20 million fully driverless trips across more than 11 cities. The company is targeting one million rides per week before the end of the year as it continues expanding across North America and internationally, including planned future service in London.
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