The company that owns and operates Google, Alphabet, also currently runs its robotaxi business Waymo, which aims to launch autonomous ride-hailing services in major American cities to compete with Uber and Lyft. A service called Waymo One already offers fully self-driving rides in Downtown Phoenix and East Valley and is looking to expand its business and replace its fleet with new electric vehicles. Zeekr China has been commissioned to develop this vehicle and we have new spy photos of the process.
What you see in the gallery below is a spy shot with a Zeekr robotaxi prototype featuring full body camouflage. The vehicle’s egg shape reportedly maximizes interior space and provides easy access to the cab and seats. There is a large greenhouse and the headlights are positioned just below the windshield. The side mirrors sit on the doors around the end of the dash in the cab.
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Speaking of dashboards, it’s interesting to see this prototype actually has a steering wheel. Zeekr is reportedly working on a fully autonomous taxi, though this test vehicle is clearly being operated by a driver. Overall, the vehicle photographed doesn’t look much different from the renderings released by the Chinese company in 2021, but self-driving technology will likely arrive at a later date judging by the steering wheel and side mirrors.
As far as the interior is concerned, we expected a flat floor and plenty of space for passengers. Features such as the infotainment screen and smartphone charger tend to be seen at the back to make the customer’s stay more enjoyable. However, we don’t know what the front of the cabin will look like in the fully autonomous version, which is expected to have no steering wheel.
Recently, Zeekr launched another interesting product. The 009 is an electric luxury minivan with a peak output of up to 536 horsepower thanks to a dual-motor system. Not many are excited about the Chinese family carrier’s 0-62 miles per hour (0-100 kilometers per hour) acceleration time, but this one does the sprint in just 4.5 seconds.
