Electric vehicle brand Zeekr teamed up with Waymo to develop a truly autonomous ride-hailing fleet.
The robotaxi—designed and assembled in Gothenburg, Sweden, then shipped to the US for Waymo Driver integration—features a flat floor, no B-pillar (the column separating the front and rear doors), fully adjustable seats, and low step-in height for increased accessibility.
But the most striking feature is what the car lacks. "Riders will one day experience an interior without steering wheel and pedals," Waymo boasted, tipping "plenty of headroom, leg room and reclining seats, screens and chargers within arm's reach, and an easy-to-configure and comfortable vehicle cabin."
An Alphabet Inc. subsidiary, Waymo expects to start rolling out its all-electric, rider-first, fully autonomous vehicles on US roads "in the years to come."
The move marks a step up from Waymo's current fleet of Jaguar I-Paces and Chrysler Pacifica hybrids, which provide rides in Phoenix, Ariz., and contain steering wheels, gas and brake pedals, and sometimes even a safety driver, ready to intervene if necessary.
Luxury EV brand Zeekr, established by Chinese automaker Geely in March, introduced its first model, the 001, a month later. "Zeekr was born on the ideals of equality, diversity, and sustainability," CEO Andy An said in a statement. The company's new vehicle will come with optional driver controls, which can be tailored for Waymo One's unmanned ride-hailing fleet.
Waymo last month began mapping New York City's bustling avenues, unusual road patterns, complex intersections, and constantly evolving layouts in an effort to scale and advance its platform.