This week, President The outgoing Joe Biden administration has finalized rules that effectively ban all Chinese- and Russian-linked automotive technology from American roads — a milestone with far-reaching effects, not least on growing trade cheap Chinese electric vehicles.
The US Commerce Department argued that the rules, first proposed in Septemberthey are necessary to protect American vehicles from foreign adversaries and interference. “Imagine there are thousands or hundreds of thousands of Chinese vehicles on American roads that someone in Beijing could immediately and simultaneously disable,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said last year. Bans on Chinese and Russian software will begin in 2027, with hardware restrictions to follow in 2029.
On paper, it might sound like a disaster Waymo. Alphabet’s self-driving technology developer announced in 2021 that automaker Zeekr — a brand majority-owned by Chinese auto giant Geely — will build its next-generation robotaxi.
In fact, pre-production models are already being tested on roads in San Francisco and Phoenix, and Zeekr officials told reporters earlier this month that a production version of the vehicle, called the Zeekr RT, will begin shipping later this year.
Despite the new rules, Waymo is confident that this partnership will not be affected and intends to continue 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 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 is American-owned and incorporated.
The vehicles Waymo is getting from Geely are said to be “basic vehicles,” devoid 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 in cars after they are shipped 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 with the help of a 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 too signed a contract with Hyundai use modified Ioniq 5s in its transport fleet later this year.
While Waymo remains confident in its own new vehicles — which will have more legroom, a higher ceiling and a low step that could make the vehicles accessible to more drivers — will avoid the ban, it’s still unclear if it could be subject to new, one hundred percent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicleswhich the Biden administration finalized last fall.
“We’re keeping a close eye on tariffs, but Waymo’s plans are on track,” confirms Teicher.