Waymo Imported Chinese Vans for Robotaxi Fleet

Waymo has begun importing Zeekr RT vehicles to expand its autonomous taxi operations in the United States.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Robotics

A streamlined silver autonomous electric van chassis sits in a bright, clean, and spacious industrial assembly plant. — Waymo has begun importing Chinese-made electric vans to bolster its United States autonomous taxi fleet, retrofitting the units at an Arizona facility. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Does Waymo importing vehicles from China decrease your trust in their autonomous taxi service?

Waymo is importing Chinese-made Zeekr RT vans, rebranded as Ojai robotaxis, to bolster its autonomous vehicle services. The company is retrofitting the vehicles at an Arizona facility to circumvent federal restrictions on connected Chinese technology.

Why it matters

These imports are part of a strategic effort to lower operating costs and accelerate the scaling of Waymo's autonomous taxi fleet. By retrofitting the vehicles domestically, Waymo maintains its growth trajectory while navigating international trade and regulatory hurdles.

Waymo has added 1,102 vehicles to its Texas fleet, marking a 49 percent increase in local capacity. The company aims to operate a total of 5,100 Ojai robotaxis across the United States by the end of 2026.

The players

Waymo

Waymo is a major autonomous driving technology company that operates a fleet of self-driving robotaxis in multiple cities.

Zeekr

Zeekr is a Chinese automotive manufacturer that produces electric vehicles, including the RT van model used by Waymo.

The details

Waymo imports the vehicles without connected technology to comply with federal bans before installing its own autonomous driving systems at its Arizona plant. The company currently provides service across 15 United States cities and remains subject to a 100 percent import tariff on these Chinese-manufactured units.

The Texas fleet grew by 49 percent during the last three weeks.
Waymo projects reaching a total of 5,100 robotaxis in the United States by the end of 2026.

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The Tech Race

The strategy to import non-connected vehicles marks a significant adaptation to the U.S. federal ban on connected vehicle technology from China. This approach highlights how autonomous developers are restructuring supply chains to sustain growth amidst heightened national security regulations.

Commuters in the 15 cities where Waymo operates may see reduced wait times as the company adds thousands of new vehicles to its fleet. Users should note that these additions are focused on scaling efficiency, though the long-term impact on ride pricing remains tied to operating costs.

The takeaway

Waymo's decision to retrofit imported hardware underscores the intense pressure to scale autonomous fleets while navigating complex global trade relations. Companies are increasingly splitting their manufacturing and software integration processes to comply with domestic technology standards.