Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service to Three US Cities With Zeekr CM1e Platform

Waymo began offering fully autonomous rides to the public in Denver, San Diego and Tampa on September 1, 2026, expanding its service network to 14 US cities. The Waymo Ojai robotaxi is based on the Zeekr CM1e electric vehicle platform and uses the sixth-generation Waymo Driver autonomous driving system.

A vehicle designed for passengers

The Zeekr CM1e is 4,640 mm long and has a 3,000 mm wheelbase. Its rear electric motor produces 200 kW and 342 Nm of torque, and its battery has a capacity of 93 kWh.

The body is designed for robotaxi service: it has no center pillar, and its doors open in opposite directions. This creates a wider opening that makes it easier for passengers to get in and out.

The sixth-generation Waymo Driver uses four lidar sensors, six radar sensors and 13 exterior cameras. Each provides different information about the vehicle’s surroundings: lidar and radar help determine the distance and position of objects, while the cameras capture images of the environment.

Robotaxi production and cost

By the end of August 2026, more than 3,200 chassis intended for these robotaxis had passed through the Port of Los Angeles. Approximately 2,900 were undergoing hardware integration, while 300 completed vehicles were already in commercial operation. These figures are approximate, and the status of the remaining chassis was not specified.

A completed robotaxi equipped with Waymo hardware costs between $103,000 and $110,000. The previous Jaguar I-Pace model cost the company approximately $200,000 per vehicle. The lower cost of the new vehicle reduces the expense of expanding the fleet.

The goal: one million rides a week

At the time, Waymo was providing more than half a million fully autonomous rides per week. It set a goal of reaching one million weekly rides by the end of 2026. This is a target for a commercial ride service, not a count of public transit routes or passengers.