Waymo opens its new Ojai robotaxi to the public for free rides in three cities

After several months of testing, Waymo is finally ready to invite non-employee passengers into its newest vehicle. The minivan, previously known as the Zeekr RT, has been rebranded as the Ojai. Waymo says it will begin offering "select riders" access in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, before "gradually" expanding to more riders and cities. Trips will be free.

The vehicle and its rebranding

The Zeekr RT, a minivan originally developed in partnership with Geely’s Zeekr brand, has undergone a name change. Waymo has rebranded the vehicle as the Ojai, marking a shift in how the company positions its hardware for the autonomous ride-hailing fleet. The vehicle was previously spotted in public testing with Waymo’s self-driving system, but now it is being deployed for passenger use. The Ojai is designed with a spacious interior and sliding doors, optimized for ride-hailing rather than personal ownership.

Rollout plan and rider selection

Waymo will not immediately open the Ojai to all users. Instead, the company is starting with “select riders” in three cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. These initial riders are likely part of a trust-and-test group, possibly drawn from Waymo’s existing waitlist or frequent users. After this controlled phase, Waymo plans to expand access “gradually” to additional riders and eventually to more cities. The company has not specified which cities will come next or how long the initial phase will last.

Pricing and availability

For now, all trips in the Ojai will be free. Waymo has not disclosed when it will start charging for rides in the new vehicle. The free-trip model mirrors Waymo’s earlier strategy when it first introduced its Jaguar I-Pace fleet to the public. The company is likely using the complimentary rides to gather data and refine the service before commercializing it. No timeline has been given for when paid rides will begin, nor has Waymo announced any specific pricing tiers.

Market context

As of May 28, 2026, the broader crypto market is showing a slight downturn. Bitcoin is trading at $72,734, down 3.1% over the past 24 hours. Ethereum is at $1,985.98, a 24-hour decline of 3.9%. The market appears to be in a cautious phase, though no direct correlation exists between Waymo’s robotaxi rollout and cryptocurrency prices.