Waymo has started giving riders access to its newest robotaxi, called the Ojai. The all-electric vehicle is now offering free rides to select users in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco as the company prepares for a bigger rollout later this year.
The Ojai is based on a modified Zeekr electric minivan, but Waymo redesigned it specifically for autonomous ride-hailing. The company wants the vehicle to feel more comfortable, more spacious, and easier to use than a normal rideshare car.
For now, only a small group of riders can try the service. But Waymo plans to expand access over the next few months and launch the Ojai in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year.
The launch marks another major step for the company as competition in the robo-taxi market continues to grow.
Meet Ojai: A Robotaxi That Feels More Like a Lounge
Waymo says the Ojai was designed to feel less like a taxi and more like a relaxing space on wheels.
- The vehicle comes with large sliding doors that open automatically, making it easier for riders to enter and exit. Inside, the flat floor and roomy cabin create an open layout that feels much bigger than a traditional car.
- Three large LED screens allow passengers to control music, temperature, and ride settings during the trip. The interior feels modern, simple, and less crowded than most ride-hailing vehicles on the road today.
- Waymo also focused heavily on accessibility. The Ojai includes braille features, screen-reader compatibility, and support handles built into the seats to help riders who may need extra assistance.
The company said it worked closely with riders and community groups while designing the vehicle. Instead of adding accessibility later, Waymo built those features into the design from the beginning.
Here’s how Ojai looks from inside:
Smarter Tech Powers the Ride
The Ojai runs on Waymo’s sixth-generation self-driving system, called the Waymo Driver.
According to the company, the updated technology can handle tougher road and weather conditions, including snowy streets. That could help Waymo expand into more cities across the United States in the future.
Waymo said its autonomous system has already completed more than 20 million fully driverless trips across over 11 cities. Over the years, the company has continued improving its cameras, sensors, radar systems, and artificial intelligence software.
Unlike some competitors still testing small pilot programs, Waymo already operates commercial autonomous ride services in several major cities.
Now, the company is preparing for much larger growth. Waymo said its factory in Mesa, Arizona, is scaling production to support tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles every year.
More Cities Are Getting Waymo Rides
Waymo’s robotaxi service is already available in Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta.
In some cities, customers use the Waymo app directly. In others, including Austin and Atlanta, riders can book trips through Uber. The company now plans to bring the Ojai to even more cities. Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego are expected to join the list later this year.
Waymo’s expansion comes as more cities look for cleaner and smarter transportation options. At the same time, more riders are becoming comfortable with autonomous vehicles.
The company believes robo-taxis could eventually become a normal part of daily city travel.
Cleaner Trips with Zero Tailpipe Emissions
Waymo is also highlighting the environmental benefits of its fully electric fleet.
Every Waymo robotaxi runs on electricity and produces zero tailpipe emissions. That helps reduce air pollution compared with gasoline-powered taxis and rideshare vehicles.
- The company currently provides more than 500,000 autonomous EV trips every week.
- Those trips help avoid around 530 tons of CO₂ emissions.
Waymo says shared electric mobility can help cities improve air quality while giving more people access to cleaner transportation.
The company also believes robotaxis can make electric travel more affordable. Many people cannot afford to buy an EV, while others simply do not want to own a car. Autonomous ride services offer another transportation option without the costs of ownership.
Waymo’s Bigger Sustainability Push
Waymo says its service can work alongside public transportation instead of replacing it.
Survey data from San Francisco showed that around 36% of riders used Waymo vehicles to connect with transit systems like BART, Muni, and CalTrain.
That means many passengers use robotaxis for shorter connections instead of driving personal vehicles everywhere.
Waymo has also created its own “Avoided Emissions Methodology” to measure how much pollution its electric fleet prevents. The company compares emissions from its fully electric rides with California’s Clean Miles Standard targets for ride-hailing companies.
Those state rules aim to reduce transportation emissions by increasing electric vehicle use and lowering carbon pollution over time.
Notably, Waymo’s environmental data is also included in sustainability reporting from Alphabet, the parent company.
As cities continue pushing for cleaner transportation, Waymo believes autonomous electric fleets could play a major role in the future of urban travel.
The Future of the Autonomous Ride-Hailing Market
The ride-hailing market is growing quickly, and autonomous vehicles are becoming a bigger part of that story.
According to Mordor Intelligence, the global ride-hailing market could grow from $184.49 billion in 2026 to $392.27 billion by 2031.
Traditional ride-hailing services still dominate the market today. In 2025, e-hailing platforms accounted for more than 73% of industry revenue. But robo-taxis are growing even faster.
Several trends are driving that growth:
- Cities are becoming more crowded
- Autonomous technology keeps improving
- Governments want cleaner transportation
- Shared mobility reduces traffic and emissions
- Companies are replacing employee car programs with ride credits
Robo-taxis also help companies lower costs by reducing driver expenses and improving route efficiency. As technology improves, autonomous ride-hailing could become much more common in large cities worldwide.
To sum up, with the Ojai rollout, the company is showing what that future may look like — quieter streets, cleaner rides, and transportation that feels smarter, simpler, and easier to use.