Why Waymo Is Ditching the Zeekr Name for Its Robotaxi: The Strategic Rebrand Behind Ojai

After three years of intensive development and field testing, Waymo is making a significant move in its autonomous vehicle strategy. The company’s next-generation driverless taxi, originally badged as the Zeekr RT, is getting a complete rebrand—now called Ojai, named after a picturesque wellness-focused town in California’s Topatopa Mountains.

The Name Game: Why Zeekr Had to Go

The shift from Zeekr to Ojai isn’t just cosmetic branding. According to Waymo’s communications team, the original manufacturer name simply didn’t resonate with American consumers. By adopting a local California place name, Waymo is making a calculated move to distance the driverless taxi from its Chinese automotive origins while creating a more relatable identity for U.S. riders.

The strategy extends beyond the badge—when passengers step into an Ojai, the vehicle will greet them personally with “Oh hi” and their name, building an interactive brand experience that feels distinctly American and consumer-friendly.

From Concept to Reality: The Ojai’s Evolution

The partnership between Waymo and Zeekr (owned by Geely Holding) began in 2021, but the real turning point came in 2022 when Waymo showcased an autonomous taxi concept in Los Angeles. That prototype, built on Zeekr’s SEA-M platform designed for next-gen mobility solutions, lacked a steering wheel entirely.

However, the production-ready Ojai model revealed at CES 2026 tells a different story. The vehicle now features a steering wheel alongside its sophisticated sensor array: 13 cameras, four lidar units, six radar systems, and specialized external audio receivers with miniature sensor wipers. Beyond hardware upgrades, Waymo refined the exterior finish from blue to silver—a visual refresh that complements the rebrand.

Testing Phase Nearing Its End

The robotaxi has been thoroughly validated on real-world streets in Phoenix and San Francisco. Currently, Waymo employees and their extended networks can already request rides in these cities—the classic pre-launch phase that typically precedes full public availability.

Waymo’s Aggressive Growth Timeline

This rebranding arrives at a pivotal moment for Waymo’s driverless taxi operations. The company currently operates autonomous ride-hailing services across five major cities: Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco.

More ambitiously, Waymo is planning rapid expansion into at least twelve additional markets over the next twelve months. Denver, Las Vegas, and London are confirmed destinations on this growth trajectory, signaling Waymo’s intention to establish itself as the dominant autonomous mobility provider across North America and beyond.

The Ojai represents more than just a renamed vehicle—it symbolizes Waymo’s pivot toward mainstream consumer acceptance and its challenge to traditional ride-hailing services with a fully driverless alternative.