Zeekr to Deliver World's First Mass-Produced Purpose-Built Robotaxi to Waymo in 2025

Zeekr, the premium electric brand under Geely Holding Group, is set to begin mass production and deliveries of its purpose-built robotaxi, the Zeekr RT, to Waymo later in 2025. This development marks a significant milestone in the autonomous vehicle industry, as the Zeekr RT is touted as the "first mass-produced vehicle purpose-built for autonomous driving," according to Zeekr CEO Andy An. The collaboration between Zeekr and Waymo, Alphabet's self-driving technology company, originated in 2021.

The Zeekr RT, based on the Zeekr Mix minivan, is designed specifically for autonomous operations, featuring a comprehensive suite of sensors. As noted by Chris Paxton in a recent social media post, the vehicle is equipped with "13 cameras, 4 lidars 6 radars, and compute all on board." This advanced sensor array is integrated with Waymo's sixth-generation "Waymo Driver" autonomous technology, which has optimized its sensor requirements for enhanced efficiency.

Prototypes of the Zeekr RT have been undergoing testing on public roads in San Francisco and Phoenix since summer 2024, operating with human safety drivers. Waymo plans to continue rigorous testing and validation of the production-intent robotaxis before transitioning to fully driverless operations. The integration of these new vehicles will occur at Waymo's manufacturing facility in Metro Phoenix, which is designed to handle multiple vehicle platforms and produce tens of thousands of autonomous vehicles annually.

The introduction of the Zeekr RT is a strategic move for both companies. For Zeekr, it represents an entry into the U.S. market, with CEO Andy An stating, "Zeekr will become the first Chinese car brand to enter the US." For Waymo, the Zeekr RT will play a crucial role in scaling its Waymo One ride-hailing fleet, complementing its existing Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis and supporting its expansion into new cities like Atlanta, Miami, and Washington, D.C. by 2026.

Further enhancing its technological prowess, Zeekr announced at CES 2025 that it will be the first automaker to integrate Nvidia's Drive AGX Thor system-on-a-chip into its autonomous driving domain controller. This powerful chip is expected to manage a wide array of intelligent driving and parking functions, underscoring the advanced capabilities of the Zeekr RT. The vehicle also features a custom-designed sensor-cleaning system with miniature wipers to ensure optimal sensor performance in various environmental conditions.