Waymo slashes robotaxi hardware cost from $115,000 to $20,000 per vehicle
ivan_bezdomny · x · 2026-08-22
Waymo's sixth-generation sensors-and-compute architecture, deployed in the Ojai autonomous EV minivan co-developed with Chinese automaker Zeekr, cuts per-vehicle hardware costs from roughly $115,000 to about $20,000.
The system runs on a custom 5nm AI chip delivering 1,000 TOPS, processing 13 cameras, 6 radars and 4 LiDARs in real time entirely onboard, eliminating teleoperation latency. Total vehicle cost drops to $75,000–$100,000, versus $200,000 for the previous Jaguar I-PACE fleet. The Ojai is already carrying passengers in Los Angeles, Phoenix and San Francisco, with 1,000 vehicles planned on the road by end of 2026. Analysts note the cost drop changes the operating model: more cities, more vehicles, faster learning.
Related event: Waymo Cuts Robotaxi Hardware Cost to $20,000(2 posts)→
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