Waymo has completed the full rollout of its Ojai driverless vans, making them available to all riders in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. The all-electric ride-hailing vehicles are now fully operational in these three cities, marking a major step for the company's autonomous vehicle program.
Waymo Ojai Full Rollout in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles
The Ojai vans are now accessible to every rider in the three cities, not just a select group. According to ABC7 News, the debut of the new Waymo Ojai brings an all-electric ride-hailing option to riders in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.
The vehicle itself is built by Zeekr, with the model code CM1e. As detailed on Wikipedia, the Ojai has been in production since December 2024 and is assembled in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. The name is pronounced "oh-hi."
What Makes the Waymo Ojai Different
The Ojai brings several design upgrades compared to earlier Waymo vehicles. According to Waymo's official video, the Ojai features elevator-like doors, more space for riders, and three large LED screens inside the cabin.
"The Ojai features elevator-like doors, more space for riders, and three large LED screens." — Waymo via YouTube
The launch of the Ojai comes with the 6th-generation Waymo Driver system. As reported by Electrek, Waymo started offering rides in the new Ojai robotaxi equipped with this advanced driver technology.
From Select Riders to Full Availability
The path to full availability began with a more limited approach. According to a LinkedIn post by Rani Molla, Waymo initially planned to offer "select riders" in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix trips in its new Ojai vans. At the start, those rides were free as the company gathered rider feedback.
Now, with the full rollout complete, the service has expanded beyond those initial select riders. The Automotive World report confirms that Waymo has launched the Ojai in all three cities with the new-generation Driver system.
Our Take: What This Means for Autonomous Driving
To put it plainly, this is a significant milestone for Waymo and for the autonomous vehicle industry as a whole. Moving from select riders to full availability in three major cities shows confidence in the technology. The Ojai isn't just a software update — it's a completely new vehicle designed specifically for driverless operation.
The design choices, like elevator-like doors and more interior space, show that Waymo is thinking about the passenger experience, not just the technology. When a company opens its service to all riders, it means the system has passed enough testing to handle real-world conditions without restrictions.
For riders in San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles, this means a new transportation option is now available. For the rest of the country, it's a sign that driverless ride-hailing is moving from pilot programs to everyday service. The question now is how quickly other cities will follow.
