For self-driving car fanatics, the Waymo-Zeekr robot taxi is nothing new.
In 2021, Waymo and Zeekr announced a partnership. Waymo first showed off a purpose-built robotaxi concept in late 2022 and began testing prototype versions on public roads in San Francisco last year, even as it began rolling out its commercial fleet of Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis.
However, some new details emerged this week at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, where Zeekr and Waymo are exhibiting. And thanks to a static display featuring the Zeekr robot, we can get a close-up of its sensors and the smallest wiper you’ve ever seen.
The image below shows a sensor package, which is located on the front side of the vehicle just above the tire. This array of sensors includes two cameras with a small wiper on it – designed to keep it clear of debris – and radar. Another suite of sensors on the back of the robotaxis includes cameras, radar and lidar. There is a cleaning and wiper system in that lidar as well.
Waymo told Techcrunch that the company designed the sensor cleaning system from scratch. (And yes, there’s a mini cleaning system in his Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis.)
In total, the Zeekr RT has 13 cameras, four lidars, six radars and a variety of external audio receivers. Lidar, or light detection and ranging radar, sends out pulses of light and is able to measure distance by determining how long it takes the pulse to return.
The robotaksi now has an official name – Zeekr RT, which was revealed at CES 2025. And there are a few more details. Zeekr announced at CES 2025 that it will begin shipping the mass-produced Zeekr RT to Waymo later this year.
For now, those robotaxis will be used for testing, according to Waymo. Eventually, they will become part of the company’s commercial fleet.
The Alphabet company, which has a large exhibition at CES 2025, began testing elements of the Zeekr robotaxis in early 2024, starting with the basic chassis and then equipped with sensors. Today, Waymo is testing the Zeekr RT prototype on public roads in San Francisco and Phoenix. These vehicles are in autonomous mode with a human safety driver behind the wheel.
Once Waymo gets the robot into production, the company will continue testing and validating them before bringing in the human safety driver. Waymo will likely follow the path it has taken and test the Zeekr RT in driverless mode before opening it up to the public.
