Waymo finds a way around US restrictions on Chinese cars

This week, President The outgoing administration of Joe Biden has passed rules that effectively ban all vehicle technology connected to China and Russia from American roads – a groundbreaking move with far-reaching implications, not least for the United States increasing trade of inexpensive Chinese electric vehicles.

The US Commerce Department has argued that the rules were initially proposed in Septemberare necessary to protect American vehicles from foreign adversaries and interference. “Imagine if there were thousands or hundreds of thousands of China-connected vehicles on American roads that could be immediately and simultaneously disabled by someone in Beijing,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said last year. Bans on Chinese and Russian software will begin in 2027, with hardware restrictions following in 2029.

On paper, this might sound like a disaster Waymo. Alphabet’s self-driving technology developer announced in 2021 that automaker Zeekr – a brand majority owned by Chinese automotive giant Geely – would build its next generation of robotaxis.

In fact, pre-production models are already being tested on roads in San Francisco and Phoenix, with Zeekr officials telling reporters earlier this month that they will begin delivering a production version of the vehicle, called the Zeekr RT, later this year.

Despite the new rules, Waymo is confident that this partnership will not be affected and intends to move forward as planned.

“We do not expect the final rule to impact our use of the Zeekr platform,” Waymo spokesman Ethan Teicher wrote in an email to WIRED.

In comments filed with the Commerce Department last year, Waymo argued that its vehicles should not be subject to the new rules because all of the connected technology onboard is American-owned and operated.

The vehicles Waymo receives from Geely are “base vehicles” that lack telematics systems and other technologies that would allow the vehicle to communicate with or send data back to its manufacturer. Only “authorized personnel” install Waymo’s self-driving technology into the cars after they are delivered to the United States.

The Commerce Department did not respond to WIRED’s questions about Waymo’s Zeekr partnership.

Today, Waymo operates its self-driving ride-hail service with modifieds Jaguar I Pace Electric vehicles in the metropolitan areas of Phoenix, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Atlanta and Austin are expected to join later this year.

The company too signed an agreement with Hyundai use modified Ioniq 5s to join its ride-hailing fleet later this year.

While Waymo remains confident new vehicles – which have more legroom, a higher ceiling and a low step, which could make the vehicles accessible to more drivers – will deviate from the ban, it is still unclear whether they could be affected new, 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric vehiclesthat the Biden administration completed last fall.

“We are monitoring the tariffs closely, but Waymo’s plans are on track,” confirms Teicher.