How Waymo Uses Zeekr Vehicles Despite US Restrictions on Chinese Imports
Waymo's partnership with Zeekr (a Geely-owned Chinese EV brand) for its next-generation robotaxi—the Zeekr RT (based on the Zeekr Mix minivan)—dates back to 2021 and remains active as of November 2025. While Zeekr vehicles are Chinese-origin, Waymo has navigated US tariffs (100% on Chinese EVs, potentially up to 145% under recent Trump escalations) and connected vehicle bans through a combination of design attribution, import strategies, exemptions, and US-based assembly. This keeps added costs manageable, estimated at 20–50% of base vehicle price rather than prohibitive. Below, I'll break it down.
Key Structural Factors Enabling the Partnership
Swedish Design and Engineering: The Zeekr RT is designed and developed at Zeekr's China Europe Vehicle Technology Centre (CEVT) in Gothenburg, Sweden—not China. This leverages Geely's ownership of Volvo (Swedish) and positions the vehicle as a "European-designed" platform under US trade rules, potentially qualifying for lower duties or exemptions from full Chinese EV tariffs. Swedish engineering helps differentiate it from pure Chinese imports like BYD models.
No Chinese Autonomy Tech: Waymo integrates its own US-developed hardware and software (the 6th-gen Waymo Driver, including LiDAR, cameras, radars, and compute) after import. The base Zeekr chassis arrives without connected vehicle software, sensors, or telematics from China, sidestepping the January 2025 Commerce Department ban on Chinese/Russian-origin autonomy tech. Waymo has publicly assured regulators that "China has nothing to do with the vital tech."
Import and Assembly Strategies to Minimize Tariffs
Kit or Chassis-Only Imports: Rather than importing fully assembled vehicles (which trigger 100%+ EV tariffs), Waymo imports Zeekr vehicles as incomplete "kits" or base chassis (e.g., body, powertrain, battery). Final assembly—including adding Waymo's autonomy suite—happens at Waymo's Mesa, Arizona facility in partnership with Magna International. This "kit assembly" workaround classifies imports as parts (tariffs 25–50% on auto components) rather than finished automobiles, slashing costs by 50–75%. Forbes reported this as Waymo's explicit plan in May 2025, allowing $40,000 base Zeekr chassis to avoid the full $40,000+ tariff hit.
US Final Integration: The Arizona plant handles outfitting for "tens of thousands" of vehicles annually, ensuring the end product is "US-assembled." This boosts local jobs (aligning with Trump-era incentives) and may qualify for tariff reductions or credits under Section 301 exemptions for substantial US value-add.
Tariffs, Exemptions, and Cost Impact
Current Tariff Exposure: Base imports face ~25% on steel/aluminum and up to 50% on EV batteries/components, but exemptions apply. Waymo received a Commerce Department "hardship ruling" in early 2025 for Chinese electronics (pre-ban imports) and likely secured similar relief for Zeekr kits due to its scale (original 100,000-unit order) and national security assurances (no data back to China). Pre-tariff prototypes (spotted in SF/Phoenix since 2024) incurred no duties.
No Full Exemption, But Not "Massive" Costs: Analysts estimate incremental costs at $10,000–$20,000 per vehicle (vs. $40,000+ for full tariffs), or ~25–50% of the $40,000 base price. Waymo absorbs some via Alphabet's $5B+ annual AV investment, but it's offset by:
Zeekr's low production costs (~$30,000–$35,000 pre-outfit).
Economies from the purpose-built design (roomier, no steering wheel/pedals, lower floor for accessibility).
Revenue from rides (~$1–$2/mile in ops), where tariffs add just 2–5 cents/mile over 1M-mile lifetime.
Political Buffer: As a US company (Alphabet), Waymo lobbies effectively; no outright ban has hit despite threats. Trump pauses (e.g., 90-day tariff delays in May 2025) allowed ramp-up.
Broader Context and Future Outlook
Hybrid Fleet Approach: Zeekr RTs (for 5-passenger groups) complement US-built options like Hyundai Ioniq 5s (assembled in Georgia, tariff-free, starting late 2025) and upcoming Toyota platforms. Zeekr is ideal for non-US expansion (e.g., Singapore, Tokyo—no Chinese tariffs there).
Risks: Escalating US-China tensions could raise kit tariffs to 100% or force full US production (Geely/Zkekr eyeing a US factory). However, Waymo's January 2025 statement—"plans are on-track"—and November sightings in San Diego signal confidence. Deliveries started Q4 2025 for testing, with commercial deployment in 2026.
In essence, Waymo's setup turns a Chinese "shell" into a US-centric robotaxi, keeping costs competitive (~$60k–$70k total, as previously estimated) without "massive" extras. This reflects AV industry's globalization amid trade wars—innovative, but precarious.
