From Zeekr to Ojai: Waymo’s Robotaxi Gets a Makeover—and a New Name

Waymo’s robotaxi is shedding its Chinese automaker skin for an ‘Oh hi’ greeting—and a new name. The Zeekr RT, now rebranded as Ojai, marks a strategic pivot to distance from its original partnership with the Chinese EV maker. Riders will hear the robotaxi greet them by name with the phrase ‘Oh hi,’ a deliberate choice to humanize the experience in a market skeptical of foreign tech brands.

Chris Bonelli, Waymo spokesperson, explained the rebranding rationale: ‘The U.S. public isn’t familiar with the Zeekr brand.’ The hardware suite—13 cameras, four lidar units, six radar systems, and external audio receivers—remains unchanged, though the vehicle’s paint color has shifted from a blueish hue to silver.

This hardware combination suggests operational limitations in adverse weather conditions, as lidar and radar performance can degrade in heavy rain or snow.

Currently, Waymo employees and their friends can hail Ojai in San Francisco and Phoenix ahead of a public launch.

The company plans to expand to 12 new cities, including Denver, Las Vegas, and London, over the next year. Internal testing feedback has focused on refining the ‘Oh hi’ greeting’s timing and ensuring the hardware suite functions reliably in dense urban environments.