Chinese EV makers are quietly entering the US through the back door — not selling cars directly, but supplying platforms for autonomous fleets. Zeekr has shipped 3,200+ CM1e platforms to Waymo since 2024.
This is a clever play. China brings cost-effective, customizable hardware. Waymo brings the software, data, and operational know-how. Classic vertical unbundling.
The irony: US policy blocks Chinese EVs at the consumer level, but welcomes them as fleet infrastructure. If Waymo scales, Chinese platforms could dominate a segment of US roads without ever appearing in a dealership.
Watch the regulatory response. If these fleets prove successful, expect scrutiny around supply chain dependencies, data flows, and national security concerns. For now, it's a pragmatic partnership — but geopolitics rarely stays pragmatic for long.
This is a clever play. China brings cost-effective, customizable hardware. Waymo brings the software, data, and operational know-how. Classic vertical unbundling.
The irony: US policy blocks Chinese EVs at the consumer level, but welcomes them as fleet infrastructure. If Waymo scales, Chinese platforms could dominate a segment of US roads without ever appearing in a dealership.
Watch the regulatory response. If these fleets prove successful, expect scrutiny around supply chain dependencies, data flows, and national security concerns. For now, it's a pragmatic partnership — but geopolitics rarely stays pragmatic for long.