Hop in, no driver needed for this future ride-hailing robotaxi
Automaker Zeekr and autonomous driving technology company Waymo have come together to create a groundbreaking autonomous vehicle designed specifically for ride-hailing services. This collaboration has resulted in the Zeekr RT, the world’s first mass-produced, purpose-built autonomous vehicle, which is now ready for delivery to Waymo for robotaxi testing. The partnership leverages Zeekr’s expertise in electric vehicle manufacturing with Waymo’s advanced self-driving technology.
The Zeekr RT is equipped with an impressive array of 13 cameras, four lidar units, six radar sensors, and external audio receivers, providing a 360-degree view of its surroundings. To ensure optimal performance in various weather conditions, the vehicle features a specially designed system to keep its sensors clean. This custom sensor-cleaning system, created by Waymo, includes tiny wipers and spray nozzles for windshield wiper fluid, ensuring clear visibility for the cameras and lidar sensors.
The advanced sensor suite of the robotaxi offers overlapping fields of view all around the vehicle, functioning effectively both day and night. At the core of the Zeekr RT’s autonomous capabilities is Nvidia’s Drive AGX Thor system-on-a-chip, making Zeekr the first automaker to integrate this cutting-edge autonomous driving chipset. This powerful AI platform can deliver up to 2,500 teraflops of performance, unifying various intelligent functions such as automated driving, parking, occupant monitoring, and infotainment into a single architecture.
Passengers will find a spacious cabin with a fully configurable interior tailored to meet the specific requirements of Waymo’s ride-hailing service. Built on Zeekr’s Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform, the Zeekr RT features an 800V ultra-fast charging e-powertrain, showcasing the latest advancements in electric vehicle technology.
The journey from concept to production has been swift and impressive, with the Zeekr RT designed and developed at Zeekr’s R&D facility, CEVT, in Gothenburg, Sweden. Waymo has been conducting tests of prototype versions of the Zeekr RT on public roads in San Francisco and Phoenix, with human safety drivers onboard. Mass production of the Zeekr RT is set to begin later this year, with initial deliveries to Waymo for further testing and validation.
As Waymo prepares to integrate the Zeekr RT into its commercial fleet, the future of autonomous ride-hailing services looks promising. Waymo plans to deploy these vehicles in its Waymo One service, which currently operates in select cities like Phoenix and San Francisco. With thorough testing, Waymo aims to operate these vehicles in fully driverless mode, marking a significant milestone in autonomous transportation. The introduction of a cost-effective and passenger-friendly vehicle could give Waymo a competitive edge in the growing robotaxi market.
The Zeekr RT represents a significant step forward in the realm of self-driving cars, showcasing the potential of collaboration between automotive companies and tech firms. As these robotaxis undergo testing on city streets, we are getting a glimpse of what urban transportation may look like in the near future. While challenges remain, the Zeekr RT is driving us closer to a world where autonomous taxis are a common sight.
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