Waymo, the Alphabet company, has introduced its latest generation robotaxi, the Ojai, to riders in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. This move marks a significant milestone for Waymo as it aims to grow its fleet with more cost-effective vehicles. Presently, customers in these cities have the option to ride in the new Ojai when they book a ride, alongside the older Jaguar I-Pace robotaxi. Waymo currently operates around 300 Ojai robotaxis in its commercial fleet.

In an expansion plan, Waymo announced its intention to launch the Ojai in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego later this year. Over the years, Waymo has heavily relied on the modified Jaguar I-Pace for its robotaxi operations in eleven U.S. cities. While the Jaguar has been instrumental in Waymo's operations, the introduction of the Ojai signifies a strategic shift towards scalability and profitability.

The Waymo Ojai robotaxi is equipped with Waymo's sixth-generation self-driving system, aimed at enhancing the company's commercial viability. Apart from the advanced self-driving technology, the Ojai features a redesigned user interface and Google's Gemini AI, providing an interactive in-car experience for riders.