Waymo is finding a way around US restrictions targeting Chinese cars

This week, President The outgoing Joe Biden administration has finalized rules effectively banning all Chinese and Russian-linked automotive technology from American roads — a landmark crackdown with far-reaching consequences, not least on growing trade of cheap Chinese electric cars.

The US Department of Commerce argued that the rules proposed for the first time in Septemberare needed to protect US vehicles from foreign adversaries and interference. “Imagine if there were thousands or hundreds of thousands of China-linked vehicles on American roads that could be instantly and simultaneously disabled by someone in Beijing,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said last year. Bans against Chinese and Russian software will begin in 2027, with hardware restrictions to follow in 2029.

On paper, this might sound like a disaster for Waymo. Alphabet’s self-driving tech developer announced in 2021 that automaker Zeekr — a brand majority owned by Chinese auto giant Geely — will build its next generation of robotics.

In fact, pre-production models are already being tested on roads in San Francisco and Phoenix, with Zeekr officials telling reporters earlier this month that it will begin shipping 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 move forward as planned.

“We do not expect the final rule to affect the 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 related equipment on board is American-owned and installed.

The vehicles Waymo is getting from Geely, it said, are “baseline vehicles” devoid of telematics systems and any other technology that would allow the vehicle to communicate or send data back to its manufacturer. Only “authorized personnel” install Waymo’s self-driving technology in cars after they are delivered to the United States.

The Commerce Department did not respond to WIRED’s questions about Waymo’s partnership with Zeekr.

Today, Waymo runs its self-driving hail service using modified Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles in metro Phoenix, AZ, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Atlanta and Austin are expected to join later this year.

The company too signed an agreement with Hyundai to use modified Ioniq 5s into its carrier fleet later this year.

While Waymo remains confident that new vehicles — which will have more legroom, a higher ceiling and a low step that could make the vehicles accessible to more drivers — will deflect the ban, it’s not yet clear whether they could be subject to new, 100 percent tariffs on Chinese electric vehicleswhich the Biden administration finalized last fall.

“We’re keeping a close eye on the rates, but Waymo’s plans are on track,” Teicher confirmed.