Waymo Imported Chinese Vans for US Robotaxi Fleet
The firm is retrofitting imported Zeekr RT vans at an Arizona plant to scale its autonomous service across 15 cities.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Robotics
Live Poll
Does Waymo importing vehicles from China decrease your trust in their autonomous taxi service?
Waymo has begun importing Zeekr RT vans from China to serve as its new Ojai robotaxi model in the United States. To bypass federal restrictions on connected vehicle technology, the company imports the base vehicles without internal communications systems before performing final retrofits at an Arizona facility.
Why it matters
The strategy allows Waymo to lower its operating costs while scaling its autonomous infrastructure, supporting a target of 5,100 total robotaxis by the end of 2026. This expansion reflects a deliberate effort to meet increasing demand for driverless transit across its 15 active U.S. service markets.
Waymo is navigating a 100 percent import tariff on Chinese-manufactured vehicles to secure its new hardware. By sourcing these vans, the company aims to reach a total fleet of 5,100 Ojai robotaxis nationwide by the end of 2026.
The players
Waymo
An autonomous driving technology company that develops full-stack self-driving systems for ride-hailing and logistics services.
Zeekr
An electric vehicle brand owned by Geely that produces the RT van model utilized for Waymo's new fleet.
The details
The Ojai robotaxis arrive in the United States stripped of connected vehicle technology—the systems that allow cars to communicate with cellular networks and infrastructure—to comply with federal regulations. Once in the country, Waymo transports the vans to its Arizona plant, where technicians install the necessary autonomous driving hardware and software stacks. This modular approach allows the company to integrate its proprietary self-driving system onto a standardized vehicle platform designed specifically for robotaxi deployment.
Timeline
Over the last three weeks, Waymo increased its Texas autonomous fleet by 49 percent.
Waymo is on track to reach 5,100 total robotaxis in the United States by the end of 2026.
The Tech Race
The move aligns with industry adaptations to the Department of Commerce's proposed prohibitions on connected vehicle technology, which restrict specific software and hardware origins in the U.S. automotive supply chain. Waymo's strategy marks a direct adaptation to these regulatory constraints by importing stripped-down hardware to maintain supply chain viability.
Users in the 15 cities where Waymo operates can expect faster availability of rides as the company expands its active vehicle count. This growth in fleet density, particularly in Texas, aims to reduce wait times for passengers requesting autonomous transport.
The takeaway
By sourcing and retrofitting hardware, Waymo is effectively bypassing complex trade barriers to accelerate its scaling efforts. Industry watchers should monitor the company's fleet deployment figures through the end of 2026 to see if these growth targets are met as scheduled.
What happens next
Watch for the total fleet milestone of 5,100 vehicles expected by the end of 2026.
Further reading
For more on the scaling of autonomous fleets, visit Robotics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CarBuzz.
Live Poll
Does Waymo importing vehicles from China decrease your trust in their autonomous taxi service?
