Waymo has placed a sizable order for thousands of electric vehicles manufactured in China, aiming to quickly grow its robotaxi fleet across the nation. This bold move is raising alarms among U.S. lawmakers regarding potential national security risks and fairness in competition.
The company’s blue “Ojai” vans, which are already operating in cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix, are expected to launch in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego within the fall. These vehicles are essentially rebranded models created by Zeekr, a division of the China-linked Geely Holding Group.
By the end of this year, Waymo is projected to import around 5,100 Ojai vans, which would more than double its existing fleet primarily made up of Jaguar I-Pace SUVs. These Jaguars are sourced from Austria and feature Waymo’s autonomous driving technology developed in Arizona.
This influx of vehicles arrives even as the Commerce Department has instituted a ban on the import or sale of any self-driving technology or “connected vehicles” from China or Russia, effective starting in model year 2027. Lawmakers are currently working on legislation to formally enforce this ban.
Waymo asserts that it adheres to federal regulations by simply importing the physical vehicles from Zeekr, to which it adds its own self-driving software and sensors in Arizona. Critics, however, warn that this partnership poses significant economic and national security issues.
Missy Cummings, a former advisor at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, expressed skepticism regarding Waymo’s assurances about the absence of Chinese technology in the Zeekr vehicles. She pointed out that a thorough inspection would be necessary to verify such claims, suggesting that there could be undisclosed tech in the chassis that could potentially transmit data back to China.
Zeekr, positioned as Geely’s luxury brand, recently reported a doubling of its global sales to 251,000 vehicles as of August, primarily in China but also looking to expand into Europe and Latin America.
This arrangement presents a predicament for policymakers in Washington. U.S. automotive executives have cited concerns that inexpensive Chinese vehicles could threaten domestic manufacturers like Tesla and the Big Three. Yet, there’s also recognition of the importance of supporting Waymo, a key player in the self-driving car sector.
A Waymo representative countered Cummings’ assertions, underscoring that all vehicles undergo thorough security testing to safeguard the company’s proprietary information. They added that Waymo does not share consumer data collected in the U.S. with Zeekr or any other vehicle manufacturer, nor does it provide Zeekr with software licenses or source code.
Waymo’s Ojais represent one of the few Chinese-made vehicles allowed on U.S. roads due to stringent tariffs that have largely restricted imports. For example, Polestar, which is majority-owned by Geely, was not permitted to sell new vehicles in the U.S. as of June, although previously sold cars can still be used.
Even with the tariffs, estimates suggest that it costs Waymo between $98,000 and $115,000 to adapt the Zeekr vehicle chassis with its own sensors, as opposed to around $200,000 for each Jaguar I-Pace robotaxi.
The spokesperson explained that Waymo’s partnership with Zeekr began in 2019, at a time when U.S. manufacturers were hesitant to collaborate on self-driving automobile projects, leaving Waymo with few options but to source vehicles from China to facilitate its expansion.
The incoming legislation from the Commerce Department establishes a ban on connected vehicles and self-driving software from China or Russia starting in the 2027 model year. This is followed by another ban on connected vehicle hardware by 2030.
Insiders in Washington have highlighted earlier instances where supply chain vulnerabilities have been exploited. For example, recent revelations indicated a Chinese firm had used concealed technology to spy on U.S. military communications. In another instance, Israel made headlines by covertly rigging devices used by adversaries.
Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin are jointly sponsoring a bill aimed at sealing the loophole permitting Waymo’s collaboration with Zeekr, advocating a ban on importing any vehicles made in China, even if modified by U.S. companies post-manufacturing.
In the House, committee chair John Moolenaar has similar legislation in the works, expressing concern that increased presence of Chinese-made vehicles could result in serious cybersecurity threats.
Moreno emphasized that permitting Chinese vehicles into the U.S. market could severely undermine American industries, leading to job losses and increased dependency on foreign entities.
Both pieces of legislation are suggested to provide Waymo with a three-year transition period to phase out their Chinese-manufactured vehicles, with compliance expected by 2030.
In a statement, Moreno described the importation of Chinese automobiles as detrimental to the American market, reinforcing his commitment to safeguarding local automotive jobs and manufacturers.
Meanwhile, Waymo reaffirmed its support for the Commerce Department’s regulations regarding connected vehicles, assuring that it actively seeks to remain compliant with governmental requirements.
The company stated that it does not share any personally identifiable customer information with vehicle manufacturers, further stressing its commitment to privacy and security.
