For the autonomous vehicle-obsessed, the Waymo-Zeekr robotaxi is nothing new.
In 2021, Waymo and Zeekr announced a partnership. Waymo first showed a concept of the purpose-built robotaxi in late 2022 and began testing prototype versions on public roads in San Francisco last year, even as it began rolling out its commercial fleet of Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis.
Still, a few new details emerged this week at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, where both Zeekr and Waymo are exhibiting. And thanks to a static display that features the Zeekr robotaxi, we can get a close-up view of its sensors and the smallest wiper you’ve ever seen.
The image below shows a package of sensors, which is located at the front side of the vehicle right above the tire. This pod of sensors includes two cameras with a small wiper on it — designed to keep it clear of debris — and radar. Another package of sensors on the back of the robotaxi includes cameras, radar, and lidar. There’s a cleaning system and wiper on that lidar as well.
Waymo told Techcrunch that the company designed the sensor-cleaning system from scratch. (And yes, there is a mini cleaning system on its Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis.)
In all, the Zeekr RT has 13 cameras, four lidar, six radar, and an array of external audio receivers. Lidar, or light detection and ranging radar, sends out pulses of light and is able to measure distance by timing how long it takes the pulse to return.
The robotaxi now has an official name — the Zeekr RT, which was revealed at CES 2025. And there are a few more details as well. Zeekr announced at CES 2025 that it will begin delivering mass-produced Zeekr RTs to Waymo later this year.
For the moment, those robotaxis will be used for testing, according to Waymo. Eventually, they’ll become part of the company’s commercial fleet.
The Alphabet company, which has a large exhibit at CES 2025, began testing elements of the Zeekr robotaxi in early 2024, starting with the base chassis and then later equipped with sensors. Today, Waymo tests the prototype Zeekr RTs on public roads in San Francisco and Phoenix. Those vehicles are in autonomous mode with a human safety driver behind the wheel.
Once Waymo receives the production-intent robotaxi, the company will continue testing and validating them before pulling out the human safety driver. Waymo will likely follow the path it has before and test the Zeekr RT in driverless mode before opening it up to the public.
