Technology
Martha Stewart partners with Waymo to promote its new custom autonomous vehicle
The lifestyle icon stars in a campaign for Waymo's purpose-built Ojai model as the Alphabet subsidiary expands rides and faces federal safety scrutiny.
The short version
- Martha Stewart partnered with Alphabet's Waymo in a marketing campaign for the Ojai, its first purpose-built autonomous ride-hailing vehicle.
- The all-electric vehicle combines the sixth-generation Waymo Driver AI system for navigation with Google's Gemini assistant for passenger cabin requests.
- Waymo is testing the Ojai in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix while facing regulatory scrutiny over safety incidents in Texas.
Key facts
- Martha Stewart partnered with Waymo on a promotional social campaign featuring its new Ojai passenger vehicle.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- The Ojai is manufactured by Chinese EV maker Zeekr and equipped with self-driving hardware in Mesa, Arizona.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- The vehicle employs the sixth-generation Waymo Driver for automated driving and an optional Google Gemini AI assistant for cabin controls and trip inquiries.[The Hollywood Reporter]
- Select public riders in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have begun riding in the Ojai, with future expansions planned for Denver, Las Vegas, and San Diego.[The Hollywood Reporter]
What remains uncertain
- The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating reports of Waymo vehicles passing stopped school buses in Austin, Texas.[The Hollywood Reporter]
Sources
- Martha Stewart Teams Up With Waymo in Ojai, Slams Old-School Taxis as a “Horrible Experience” (Exclusive)The Hollywood Reporter metered