Waymo Unveils Robot Taxi Based on Zeekr SEA-M Platform

Waymo late Wednesday unveiled a new robotic cab based on a platform developed by Geely Automobile and its Zeekr EV brand.

Alphabet Inc.'s self-driving division first announced plans for this robot cab in late 2021, and said in Wednesday's reveal that the vehicle will be introduced to the Waymo One robot cab service "in a few years."

Waymo One has operated successfully in parts of Phoenix over the past few years. Last summer, the service was expanded to parts of San Francisco, and Waymo has confirmed that Los Angeles will be its next destination. Waymo is also developing a self-driving delivery service known as Waymo Via.

Waymo currently uses Chrysler's Pacifica minivan and Jaguar's I-Pace crossover for its Waymo One service, although these vehicles were originally designed for personal human drivers. The new robotic cabs are designed specifically for self-driving services, which has many advantages for companies like Waymo. [The robo-taxi platform is a variation of Geely Automobile's SEA platform, which is designed specifically for EVs. It is designed for mobility services and is named the SEA-M platform. Key features include flexible seating options, a flat floor, sliding doors, a missing B-pillar for easy entry and exit, and a robust electrical backbone for easy connectivity and hardware integration.

While Waymo's robotic cabs lack a steering wheel and pedals, vehicles based on the SEA-M platform have the option to add these; NHTSA no longer requires such conventional equipment on self-driving vehicles as long as they meet federal vehicle safety standards.

The actual self-driving system for Waymo's robot cabs will be Waymo's own Waymo Driver. This system is capable of driving alone for extended periods of time, albeit with limitations, and thus ranks at Level 4 on the SAE scale of automated driving capability. Level 5 is the ultimate goal, meaning the system can drive at the same level as a human.

Zeekr has not disclosed where robotaxis will be manufactured, but Geely Automobile is establishing a new plant in China to produce vehicles based on the SEA platform.

Separately, Zeekr has partnered with Intel's Mobileye self-driving division to develop its own vehicle with Level 4 self-driving capabilities. The target launch date is 2024.