Waymo and Zeekr Unveil the Latest in Robotaxi Innovation at CES 2025
For those fascinated by autonomous vehicles, the collaboration between Waymo and Zeekr has been on the radar since its announcement in 2021. Fast forward to CES 2025 in Las Vegas, where new intriguing details have emerged about their purpose-built robotaxi, now officially named the Zeekr RT. The partnership first gave us a glimpse of this innovative vehicle concept in late 2022, followed by public road testing in San Francisco last year, alongside Waymo’s commercial Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis.
This year’s CES has offered a closer look at the Zeekr RT, particularly its impressive suite of sensors. On display is a sensor package located above the vehicle’s front tire, featuring two cameras with a tiny wiper—proving that even the smallest details matter. These sensors are complemented by radar and a separate package at the vehicle’s rear equipped with additional cameras, radar, and lidar. Waymo has proudly developed a unique sensor-cleaning system for these components, ensuring optimal performance.
“The Zeekr RT is equipped with 13 cameras, four lidars, six radars, and an array of external audio receivers,” shared a Waymo representative with TechCrunch.
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Lidar technology stands out as it sends out pulses of light to measure distances with precision, a crucial feature for autonomous navigation. As we learned at CES 2025, mass production of the Zeekr RT will commence later this year for testing purposes before joining Waymo’s commercial fleet.
- Testing Timeline: Early 2024 – Platform testing commenced
- Current Testing Locations: San Francisco and Phoenix
- Safety Measures: Human safety drivers present during trials
As Waymo continues to refine the Zeekr RT, further testing and validation will precede its introduction to public roads without safety drivers. Following their tried-and-true method, the anticipation builds for when these robotaxis can operate entirely driverless.
The journey toward fully autonomous fleets is becoming clearer, with each technological advancement bringing us closer to this transformative future in transportation. Stay tuned as Waymo and Zeekr continue to lead the charge.
