Waymo Finds a Way Around US Restrictions Targeting Chinese Cars

This week, the president Joe Biden’s outgoing administration has finalized rules to effectively ban all Chinese- and Russian-linked vehicle technology from American roads — a landmark crackdown with far-reaching implications, not least. Growing trade Cheap Chinese EVs.

The US Commerce Department argued that the first proposed rule in SeptemberNecessary to protect American vehicles from foreign adversaries and interference. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said last year, “Imagine if there were thousands or hundreds of thousands of Chinese-connected vehicles on America’s roads that could be immediately and simultaneously disabled by someone in Beijing.” Sanctions against Chinese and Russian software will begin in 2027, with hardware restrictions in 2029.

On paper, this may 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 develop its next-generation robotoxi.

In fact, with preproduction models already testing on the streets of San Francisco and Phoenix, Zeekr officials told reporters earlier this month that it would 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 proceed as planned.

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

In comments submitted to the Commerce Department last year, Waymo argued that its vehicles should not be subject to the new rules because all the connected technology on board is American-owned and installed.

The vehicles Waymo gets from Geely, it says, the “base vehicle,” the telematics system and any other technology that allows the vehicle to communicate with its manufacturer or send data back. Only “authorized personnel” install Waymo’s self-driving technology in vehicles when 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-hailing 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 organization too Signed an agreement with Hyundai to use modified Ioniq 5s to its ride-hailing fleet later this year.

Waymo remains confident, though New vehicles —which will have more legroom, a higher ceiling, and a lower step that could make the vehicle accessible to more passengers—will lift the ban, though it’s not yet clear whether they could be subject to it. New, 100 percent tariff on Chinese electric carswhich the Biden administration finalized last fall.

“We’re watching tariffs closely, but Waymo’s plans are on-track,” confirmed Teicher.