Geely Partners with Waymo to Launch Autonomous Robotaxi Service in the U.S.
Chinese automaker Geely is expanding its presence in the U.S. autonomous vehicle market by partnering with Waymo to provide electric Zeekr vehicles for a robotaxi service. The vehicles will be fully equipped with Waymo’s self-driving technology and will initially offer rides for company employees, with plans for commercial expansion in the future.
Satish Jeyachandran, Vice President of Engineering at Waymo, stated that the sixth-generation system will serve as "the core engine for the next phase of expansion," highlighting the company’s focus on enhancing technical infrastructure to accelerate deployment across new cities.
While the partnership with a Chinese manufacturer raises potential political concerns in the U.S., Waymo emphasized that all critical systems, maps, sensors, decision-making algorithms, and user applications operate entirely on U.S.-based infrastructure, devices, and cloud servers. Geely will not have access to any self-driving software, sensor data, or passenger information.
Analysts see this move as Google’s strategy to balance manufacturing cost reductions through low-cost Chinese suppliers while maintaining data sovereignty and cybersecurity in the United States. The announcement follows Google’s $32 billion acquisition of Wiz, reinforcing its commitment to secure digital infrastructure.
Waymo’s expansion, combined with the technical and financial strength of companies like Google and Nvidia, positions it as a leading competitor in the autonomous robotaxi market. Investors are closely watching Waymo’s ability to leverage cost savings and advanced technology to increase market share.