Waymo's Chinese Robotaxi Fleet Sparks National Security Concerns in Congress

Alphabet-owned Waymo is expanding its U.S. robotaxi fleet with thousands of Chinese-built electric vehicles, a move that is igniting national security and fair competition concerns among lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The vehicles, rebranded as Waymo Ojai vans, are based on models from Zeekr, a subsidiary of China’s Geely Holding Group, which has ties to the Chinese Communist Party.

Waymo is on track to import approximately 5,100 Ojai vehicles by the end of the year, more than doubling its current fleet. These new vehicles are currently operating in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Phoenix, with plans to launch in Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego this fall. Waymo's existing fleet primarily consists of Jaguar I-Pace SUVs, which are imported from Austria and then outfitted with Waymo's autonomous technology in Arizona.

The expansion comes as the U.S. Commerce Department has proposed rules to ban the import or sale of connected vehicles and self-driving software manufactured in China starting with model year 2027. Legislation aiming to formalize such a ban is also under consideration in both chambers of Congress.

Waymo maintains that it complies with federal regulations by sourcing only the physical vehicles from Zeekr and then integrating its proprietary sensors and software at its Arizona facility. However, critics argue that this arrangement still poses significant economic and national security risks.

Missy Cummings, a former senior safety advisor at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, expressed skepticism about Waymo's assurances. She suggested that the Zeekr chassis might contain undisclosed Chinese technology capable of collecting and transmitting data back to China. "I would have to get in and look at the physical construct of the car to know that that's absolutely true," Cummings stated. "It's very possible that the Chinese have layered in other sensors that are recording data and sending it back to China."

Zeekr, Geely's luxury brand, has seen its global sales double to 251,000 vehicles as of August, with ambitions for expansion into European and Latin American markets. The partnership between Waymo and Zeekr presents a complex dilemma for policymakers, who are simultaneously concerned about the threat posed by Chinese electric vehicles to American automakers like Tesla and Detroit's Big Three, while also seeking to foster innovation in the self-driving car sector.

Waymo defended its sourcing strategy, stating that its vehicles undergo rigorous security testing and that the company does not share data collected on U.S. consumers or its proprietary software and algorithms with Zeekr or any other vehicle manufacturer. The company also noted that its decision to source from Zeekr dates back to 2019, when U.S. manufacturers were hesitant to partner due to competing self-driving projects.

Despite existing tariffs of 127.5% on Chinese vehicles, the Waymo Ojai is among the few Chinese-made cars appearing on U.S. roads. The cost of combining a Zeekr chassis with Waymo's technology is estimated to be between $98,000 and $115,000, significantly less than the estimated $200,000 for Waymo's Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis.

Lawmakers are pushing for legislative action to close potential loopholes. Senators Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) and Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) are co-sponsoring a bill that would ban the import of any vehicle manufactured in China, even if U.S. companies modify them afterward. In the House, China Select Committee Chair John Moolenaar has introduced similar legislation. These proposals include a three-year grace period for companies like Waymo to transition away from Chinese-made vehicles, with compliance required by 2030.

Moolenaar has warned of potential risks, including the possibility of hidden malware disabling vehicle fleets or being used for malicious purposes. He stated, "China cheats on trade and threatens our national security. We cannot allow its vehicles into our country, or it will use that opportunity to bankrupt US companies, cause massive job losses, undermine the security of our infrastructure, and hollow out the foundation of our nation’s manufacturing base."

Senator Moreno characterized the import of Chinese cars as a "cancer to the American market" and emphasized the need to protect the American auto industry from subsidized foreign competitors.

A Waymo spokesperson reiterated the company's commitment to supporting government rules addressing national security concerns regarding foreign connected vehicle technology and affirmed that Waymo does not share personally identifiable information, telemetry data, or data from its automated driving system with vehicle manufacturers.