{"id":154,"date":"2026-05-28T16:04:40","date_gmt":"2026-05-28T16:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phoenixrelocationnews.com\/?p=154"},"modified":"2026-05-28T16:04:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T16:04:40","slug":"youll-soon-be-able-to-ride-waymos-new-ojai-model-robotaxi-for-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phoenixrelocationnews.com\/?p=154","title":{"rendered":"You\u2019ll soon be able to ride Waymo\u2019s new Ojai model robotaxi for free"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Phoenix riders will be able to start taking Waymo\u2019s new blue and boxy van-like cars around town in the upcoming weeks, the company announced Thursday.<\/p>\n

Read more Arizona police board to probe state trooper who lied about tasing man<\/a><\/p>\n

Waymo\u2019s sleek, white autonomous robotaxis have become a staple of Phoenix\u2019s streets, with their humming noises and helmet-like spinning camera tops. But since last summer, a new version of the company\u2019s driverless taxis that Waymo has been testing has been spotted around town.<\/p>\n

Now, a select few Phoenix riders will be able to start riding these new cars for free. As part of testing the new model \u2014 called Ojai and pronounced \u201cOh-hi\u201d \u2014 Waymo is offering free rides for a limited time to gather customer feedback. Riders will also be able to take the new cars for a spin in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Waymo did not give a specific date for when the free rides will become available for customers, but spokesperson Sandy Karp said Waymo \u201clook(s) forward to serving riders in June.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ojai was built for riders with riders,\u201d Karp said. \u201cWe want to hear about their rider experience \u2014 from the vehicle itself to the driving quality and support experience \u2014 so we can continue refining it together as we welcome even more riders to experience the Ojai.\u201d<\/p>\n

The electric Ojai models were created in collaboration with the Chinese car manufacturer Geely. Originally called the Zeekr RT, the new vehicles feature an \u201cexpansive cabin\u201d that\u2019s easier to clean, \u201cincreased leg room\u201d and \u201csubtle conveniences\u201d like charging ports, cup holders and larger screens, according to a Waymo press release. Accessibility features, such as a lower step-in height, braille buttons and grab bars, are also prioritized in these new models.<\/p>\n

The Ojai model will also feature Wayamo\u2019s sixth-generation \u201cdriver,\u201d which brings \u201cfully autonomous operations\u201d that aim to streamline \u201cconfiguration that drives down costs while maintaining our uncompromising safety standards,\u201d according to a February 2026 press release from the company. This includes improving safety components through its vision system and radar. The new sixth-generation driver will enable Waymo to bring its autonomous operations to snowier cities \u2014 though that\u2019s not particularly relevant to Phoenix.<\/p>\n

Read more Map: Where ICE has been seen in Phoenix so far<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s unclear how many Phoenix Waymo die-hards will be able to order one of these bad boys for a free ride. Karp said that Waymo will \u201cbe gradually rolling out the Ojai to more riders over time, starting with riders who\u2019ve opted in to experience Waymo\u2019s latest service and features first.\u201d But you\u2019ll likely begin seeing more of them on the road \u2014 Waymo\u2019s Arizona factory is revving up to produce \u201ctens of thousands of units annually\u201d of the Ojai, Karp said.<\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean the classic Jaguar model is going away anytime soon. More than 1,500 Jaguar Waymos are rolling around San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin, and the company is in the process adding 2,000 more to its nationwide fleet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

Just as the Ojais start to become more common, though, the Jaguars are suffering a setback. On Wednesday, six months after Waymo announced the Jaguars were now free to travel on Phoenix highways, the company announced it\u2019d be temporarily pausing its freeway service in Phoenix and other cities. The company cited issues with the vehicles\u2019 ability to navigate construction sites, but didn\u2019t provide a timeline for their return to freeways. Karp said Waymo expects \u201cto resume service soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, weigh that the next time you think about hailing a Waymo. You may get a free ride in the new model, but you\u2019ll be sticking to surface streets.<\/p>\n

Read more Police shot and killed a man in her car. She\u2019s burdened by questions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the robotaxi company moves forward with testing the blue van models in Phoenix, it needs feedback from human riders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":153,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-154","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transportation"],"yoast_head":"\nYou\u2019ll soon be able to ride Waymo\u2019s new Ojai model robotaxi for free - Phoenix Relocation News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/phoenixrelocationnews.com\/?p=154\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"You\u2019ll soon be able to ride Waymo\u2019s new Ojai model robotaxi for free - 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