Waymo's New-Look Robotaxi Is Now Available To All LA Riders

LOS ANGELES, CA — Los Angeles Waymo riders could find a very different-looking robotaxi arriving for their next trip as the company begins commercial operations with its new Ojai vehicle.

Waymo confirmed to Patch that all riders in Los Angeles, along with San Francisco and Phoenix, can now be matched with the boxy, minivan-like Ojai following months of free trips offered to early-access riders.

For now, customers won't be able to specifically request one. Instead, riders may be matched with an Ojai when one is available nearby. Waymo said it eventually plans to allow customers to choose between the Ojai and the Jaguar I-PACE vehicles that have become a familiar sight on Los Angeles streets.

Unlike the Jaguar, the Ojai was designed from the ground up for autonomous ride-hailing. The vehicle has wide, elevator-like doors, a low step and a completely flat floor, with Waymo describing the spacious cabin as a "living room on wheels."

Inside are three large LED screens that allow passengers to customize features including temperature and music. The vehicle also includes embedded Braille, screen-reader compatibility and a seat-integrated handle designed to provide extra support when getting in or out.

The Ojai is the first vehicle to debut Waymo's sixth-generation Waymo Driver, the latest version of the autonomous driving technology behind the company's robotaxis. Waymo says the system was designed to help it expand into a wider range of environments, including cities with more severe winter weather.

Waymo has also added Google's Gemini artificial intelligence assistant to the Ojai as part of a redesigned in-car interface. Riders can use Gemini to adjust cabin settings, get information about their journey or ask questions about places around them. The assistant operates independently from the Waymo Driver and, aside from allowing a rider to request a pullover, does not control the vehicle's movement or routing.

Waymo said feedback from early-access riders was used to refine the Ojai experience before commercial operations began.

The company said it will soon offer Ojai rides to select riders in Denver, San Diego and Las Vegas, with additional cities expected later this year.

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