What happened
Waymo ordered 5,100 Ojai robotaxis built by Zeekr in China, clearing customs despite a 127.5% US tariff; the fleet would more than double by end of 2026.
Why it matters
Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin filed a bill to ban Chinese-made vehicle imports from 2027, with a grace period to 2030.
Remember this
Waymo's China-built robotaxis are legal for now, but Capitol Hill wants the pipeline closed by 2030.
What happens next
The Moreno-Slotkin bill would ban Chinese vehicle imports from model year 2027, with a three-year grace period running to 2030. Waymo says its Ojais arrive without prohibited connected software and adds its own driving stack at a Mesa, Arizona plant; lawmakers remain unconvinced.
More context & who is affected
Google's Waymo has ordered 5,100 Ojai robotaxis built by China's Zeekr, clearing US customs in 2026 despite a 127.5% tariff on Chinese vehicles.
Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin filed a bill to bar Chinese vehicle imports from 2027, with a three-year grace period running to 2030.
Missy Cummings of George Mason warned that \"Chinese have layered in other sensors that are recording data\" back to Beijing.
- Ojai robotaxis on Waymo's order
- 5,100 Imports due to clear customs by end of 2026, more than doubling Waymo's current fleet.New York Post
- US tariff on Chinese vehicles
- 127.5% Current US tariff rate on Chinese passenger vehicles, per the New York Post.New York Post
- Waymo fleet target by end of 2027
- 20,000 Reuters/Semafor: fivefold growth from ~4,000 vehicles today, backed by a $5 billion debt raise.New York Post
Policy Watchers
A bipartisan bill would bar Chinese-made vehicle imports into the US from model year 2027, with a grace period running to 2030.
Automotive Industry
Waymo's 5,100 Ojai import locks its expansion plans onto a China-linked supplier (Zeekr under Geely Holding) that US lawmakers flag as CCP-tied.
Automotive Industry · Technology Professionals
Waymo installs its own driving sensors and software at a Mesa, Arizona plant, offsetting some China-tie risk but not the base-vehicle origin.
Reporting fromNew York Post ↗The Times of India ↗
Sources & verification2 sources · 4 claims
These are the records behind this briefing. Linked reporting is not the same as independent confirmation.
- New York PostReportingPublished Oct 19, 2026 · Accessed Oct 21, 2026
- The Times of IndiaReportingPublished Oct 20, 2026 · Accessed Oct 21, 2026
Claims and linked sources
Waymo has ordered 5,100 Ojai robotaxis built by Zeekr to clear US customs in 2026.
US Commerce Department rules would bar connected-vehicle imports from China starting model year 2027, with connected hardware banned for model year 2030.
Senators Bernie Moreno and Elissa Slotkin filed the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026, banning Chinese-made vehicle imports with a grace period to 2030.
Missy Cummings of George Mason said it is very possible that Chinese have layered in other sensors that are recording data and sending it back to China.
