This week, President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration finalized guidelines successfully banning all Chinese language- and Russian-connected car tech from American roads—a landmark crackdown with far-reaching results, not least on the rising commerce of cheap Chinese language EVs.
The US Commerce Division has argued that the foundations, first proposed in September, are mandatory to guard American automobiles from international adversaries and interference. “Think about if there have been 1000’s or lots of of 1000’s of Chinese language-connected automobiles on American roads that could possibly be instantly and concurrently disabled by any individual in Beijing,” commerce secretary Gina Raimondo mentioned final yr. Prohibitions towards Chinese language and Russian software program will start in 2027, with {hardware} restrictions following in 2029.
On paper, which may sound like a catastrophe for Waymo. Alphabet’s self-driving tech developer introduced in 2021 that automaker Zeekr—a model majority owned by the Chinese language automotive large Geely—would construct its subsequent era of robotaxis.
In truth, preproduction fashions are already in testing on roads in San Francisco and Phoenix, with Zeekr officers telling reporters earlier this month that it’s going to start to ship a manufacturing model of the car, known as the Zeekr RT, later this yr.
Regardless of the brand new guidelines, Waymo is assured this partnership is not going to be affected and intends to maneuver ahead as deliberate.
“We don’t anticipate the ultimate rule will influence our use of the Zeekr platform,” Waymo spokesperson Ethan Teicher wrote in an electronic mail to WIRED.
In feedback submitted to the Commerce Division final yr, Waymo argued its automobiles shouldn’t be topic to the brand new guidelines as a result of all of the related tech on board is American-owned and -fitted.
The automobiles Waymo receives from Geely, it says, are “base automobiles,” stripped of telematics programs and some other expertise that might permit the car to speak with, or ship information again to, its producer. Solely “approved personnel” set up Waymo’s self-driving expertise into the automobiles after they’re delivered to the USA.
The Commerce Division didn’t reply to WIRED’s questions on Waymo’s Zeekr partnership.
At the moment, Waymo operates its self-driving ride-hail service utilizing modified Jaguar I-Tempo electrical automobiles in metro Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Atlanta and Austin are anticipated to hitch later this yr.
The corporate additionally signed an settlement with Hyundai to make use of modified Ioniq 5s in its ride-hailing fleet later this yr.
Whereas Waymo stays assured its new automobiles —which could have extra legroom, the next ceiling, and a low step that might make the automobiles accessible to extra riders— will swerve the ban, it’s nonetheless unclear whether or not they could possibly be topic to new, 100% tariffs on Chinese language electrical automobiles, which the Biden administration finalized final fall.
“We’re monitoring tariffs carefully, however Waymo’s plans are on-track,” confirms Teicher.