Waymo has begun deploying its newest robotaxi model, the Ojai, to select riders in California and Arizona as the autonomous vehicle company works to lower the costs of expanding its fleet. The pale-blue minivan vehicles, built in partnership with Chinese automaker Zeekr, represent a significant shift in Waymo's vehicle strategy.

The Ojai robotaxis will start picking up members of the public in the coming weeks, marking the launch of Waymo's first Chinese-manufactured autonomous vehicle for commercial passenger service. The deployment follows years of development and testing of the new platform.

The introduction of the Zeekr-built vehicles is part of Waymo's broader effort to reduce the expenses associated with scaling its robotaxi operations. The company has been seeking ways to make its autonomous ride-hailing service more cost-effective as it expands beyond its current markets.

Waymo's decision to partner with Zeekr for vehicle manufacturing represents a notable change from its previous approach, which relied primarily on modified existing vehicles from traditional automakers. The new partnership is designed to create purpose-built robotaxis that can be produced more efficiently for autonomous driving applications.

The launch comes at what industry observers describe as a challenging period for Waymo and the broader autonomous vehicle sector, as companies work to demonstrate the commercial viability of self-driving technology while managing development and operational costs.