Waymo Finds a Way Around US Restrictions Targeting Chinese Cars

This week, President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration finalized rules effectively banning all Chinese- and Russian-connected vehicle tech from American roads—a landmark crackdown with far-reaching effects, not least on the rising trade of inexpensive Chinese EVs.

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

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

In fact, preproduction models are already in testing on roads in San Francisco and Phoenix, with Zeekr officials telling reporters earlier this month that it will begin to deliver a production version of the vehicle, called the Zeekr RT, later this year.

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

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

In comments submitted to the Commerce Department last year, Waymo argued its vehicles shouldn’t be subject to the new rules because all the connected tech on board is American-owned and -fitted.

The vehicles Waymo receives from Geely, it says, are “base vehicles,” stripped of telematics systems and any other technology 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’re delivered to the United States.

The Commerce Department didn’t respond to WIRED’s questions about Waymo’s Zeekr partnership.

Today, Waymo operates its self-driving ride-hail service using modified Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles in metro Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Atlanta and Austin are expected to join later this year.

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

While Waymo remains confident its new vehicles —which will have more legroom, a higher ceiling, and a low step that could make the vehicles accessible to more riders— will swerve the ban, it’s still unclear whether they could be subject to new, 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, which the Biden administration finalized last fall.

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