Waymo is rebranding its Zeekr robotaxi

Waymo has spent the past three years refining and testing a minivan-like vehicle made by Chinese automaker Zeekr. And now, before this robotaxi joins Waymo’s official commercial fleet, it’s getting a new name, the company told TechCrunch.

The Zeekr RT robotaxi will now be called Ojai (pronounced “oh-hi”) — after the village in the Topatopa Mountains above Los Angeles known for its arts community and focus on wellness.

Waymo’s official explanation, according to spokesman Chris Bonelli, is that the company found that the US public is unfamiliar with the Zeekr brand. This branding can also be carried over into the rider experience. Apparently, when customers finally enter Ojai, the robotaxi will greet them with an “Oh hi” and their name. Cute.

Of course, in the U.S. it might not hurt to have the name of a Chinese automaker either.

For those unfamiliar, Waymo first entered into a partnership with Geely Holding Group-owned Zeekr in 2021. Waymo unveiled a concept of a purpose-built robotaxi the following year at an impressive event in Los Angeles. The prototype was based on a version of Zeekr’s SEA-M architecture designed for “future mobility products” such as robotic vehicles and logistics vehicles.

It is worth noting that the prototype did not have a steering wheel. But the Ojai, which was unveiled at CES 2026, does.

The Zeekr RT (now Ojai) has gone through some improvements over the years as it has gone through development and testing in cities like Phoenix and San Francisco. Last year at CES, Waymo gave the robotaxi the now-retired name Zeekr RT and showed off some of its hardware, including 13 cameras, four lidars, six radars, a slew of external audio receivers, and the tiniest sensor wipers you’ve ever seen.

This hardware suite is the same. But the paint color has been modified, according to the company. Waymo told TechCrunch that the paint color, which had a blue tint, is now more silver.

All of these latest modifications were made in advance of Ojai’s imminent release into commercial service. Waymo employees, family and friends can now hail the Zeekr van in San Francisco and Phoenix — usually one of the last steps before it becomes available to the public.

Waymo is in the midst of a rapid expansion. The company, which offers a commercial robotaxi service in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco, plans to roll out to a dozen more cities next year. These cities include Denver, Las Vegas and London.