Zeekr Will Provide Autonomous Taxi For Waymo, Operates Extensively In US

Zeekr, will build electric vehicles for Waymo. (photo; waymo.com)

JAKARTA - China's Geely Holding said its premium electric mobility brand, Zeekr, will build electric vehicles for Waymo, Alphabet Inc's self-driving unit, to be used as fully autonomous ride-hailing vehicles across the United States.

The vehicle will be designed and developed at Zeekr's facility in Sweden, and then integrated with Waymo's self-driving technology, a Geely source said on Tuesday, December 28, quoted by Reuters.

Waymo said it would introduce the vehicle to the streets in the US "in the coming years."

A Waymo concept image published last Tuesday shows a roomy, low-rise minivan with seating for about five riders and sliding doors on each side that serve as the only entrance.

Waymo is the first and only driverless taxi service in the United States. The taxi has attracted thousands of people since launching its service a year ago in Phoenix.

The partnership with Zeekr will help Waymo expand its driverless ride-hailing service in the face of increased competition, and also create a breakthrough for the Chinese brand, Geely, into the US market.