Waymo's new Ojai robotaxi, which was marketed as a driverless vehicle, still includes a steering wheel and rearview mirrors, surprising many observers. This design choice is intended to ease rider apprehension about autonomous travel, while the vehicle's future may be uncertain due to the current US-China trade tensions affecting its production plans.
Waymo's Ojai robotaxi still includes a steering wheel and rearview mirrors, despite being marketed as a driverless vehicle, primarily to ease user transition to autonomous transport. However, strategic implications suggest that Ojai may not become a mainstay in Waymo's fleet due to U.S.-China trade tensions, with future expansion focusing on locally-produced Hyundai Ioniq 5 EVs retrofitted with Waymo’s sixth-generation Driver. This shift could influence partnership and procurement strategies for those tracking autonomous vehicle deployments.