Zeekr and Waymo’s Autonomous Taxi Hits the Streets of San Francisco

Waymo recently initiated on-road trials of an advanced robotaxi developed in collaboration with Zeekr, a Chinese EV maker, navigating through the streets of San Francisco.

Presently, Waymo is operating a limited number of these Zeekr vehicles in San Francisco, focusing on testing with drivers; however, the vehicles are not yet driving autonomously. This step marks a significant progression for Waymo, under Alphabet, showcasing a concerted effort in evolving their autonomous driving tech, with the project having been in development since its announcement in December 2021.

In its existing commercial fleet, Waymo utilizes Jaguar I-Paces equipped with their generation five Driver technology. These have been somewhat cramped for groups of passengers.

This newly introduced vehicle, reminiscent of Zeekr’s anticipated Zeekr 009 minivan, incorporates the sixth iteration of Waymo’s technology. This version not only reduces costs but is aimed at functioning in winter conditions.

“The evolution from our fourth-generation models, used on Chrysler Pacificas, to our current technology, reflects our advancements towards full autonomy and operation in multiple cities. The latest generation simplifies our design significantly, making operations in colder climates feasible,” Sandy Karp, a representative for Waymo, shared with TechCrunch.

The timeframe for Waymo’s expansion to frostier locales remains undecided. Although Waymo undertook testing in Buffalo, New York, the company has withdrawn from the area, focusing on summer simulations of winter driving, with plans for further cold-weather testing this year.

Karp highlighted Waymo’s commitment to enhancing the Waymo One service in its current locations—Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin—with the sixth-gen Driver playing a pivotal role in potential expansions.

Before any expansion, Waymo’s sixth-gen tech must undergo thorough evaluation, including its sensor suite’s performance in both extremely hot and cold conditions, testing locations have included Death Valley and Las Vegas.

“Ensuring thermal stability for our cameras, to prevent distortion from extreme temperatures, is critical,” Karp emphasized. 

Although Waymo operates a relatively small fleet of Zeekr vehicles for testing in San Francisco, this development is noteworthy, especially given the current geopolitical scrutiny of technology with Chinese connections. Zeekr is a subsidiary of the Chinese automotive conglomerate Geely Automotive. 

This move occurs amidst discussions by the U.S. Commerce Department about implementing rules for connected vehicles in August, with a focus on restricting software from China and other nations perceived as adversaries. This follows an initiative by U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin to potentially limit or forbid Chinese connected vehicles in the U.S.

It’s important to note that the Waymo-Zeekr collaboration doesn’t utilize Zeekr’s software or sensors. These vehicles are designed in Sweden and produced in China, with the Waymo Driver technology, encompassing both hardware and software, being integrated in the U.S. Waymo has also engaged in the policy discussion, clarifying its use of base vehicles from Zeekr in its submissions to the Commerce Department.

Despite potential regulatory considerations from federal and state authorities concerning Chinese technology, Waymo’s approach and its applications for testing and deployment in California remain focused on navigating those challenges effectively. The DMV and California Public Utilities Commission have processes in place that account for emerging vehicle technologies, including those without traditional manual controls. 

Indeed, the introduction of the Zeekr prototype, with features like a removable steering wheel, highlights the forward-looking plans for autonomous operation without conventional controls.