Waymo's plan to flood cities with Chinese-made robotaxis sparks fears
Waymo's Chinese-made robotaxis are raising national security fears as the company expands across America.
TL;DR
- Waymo has ordered around 5,100 Chinese-made robotaxis from Zeekr, a subsidiary of Geely Holding Group, by the end of 2026.
- The deal raises national security and spying fears, with critics questioning potential ties to the Chinese Communist Party and supply chain risks.
- Senator Rick Scott urged the SEC to investigate Zeekr due to concerns about its potential ties to the Chinese government and protections for American investors.
- Waymo installs its own technology in Arizona and states vehicles comply with U.S. rules, asserting it does not share rider data or source code with manufacturers.
- U.S. government measures are underway to restrict Chinese involvement in the connected-vehicle market, with potential legislation and existing rules impacting companies like Waymo.