Waymo chief safety officer Mauricio Peña fronted US lawmakers at a tense Senate hearing last week, where the self-driving tech company was accused of getting “in bed with China,” as it rolls out more of its robotaxis. The hearing also offered a reminder that beneath the polished image of AI, there’s still a reliance on human labor, often lower paid, sourced from abroad, and largely out of sight.

For years, the Google Alphabet-owned company has relied on the Jaguar I-Pace for its fleet, but Waymo is now preparing to roll out a next-generation, minivan-style robotaxi developed in partnership with Zeekr, a subsidiary of China’s Geely Group.

During the hearing, Peña told lawmakers that the United States is “locked in a race with Chinese companies for the future of autonomous vehicles.”

Read: Waymo’s Ready For One Of Europe’s Busiest Cities, But Is The City Ready?

He also warned that without a clear national framework, the industry could end up facing a fragmented patchwork of state regulations that slows investment and limits progress.

Lawmaker Questions Zeekr Partnership

Sen. Bernie Moreno from Ohio didn’t let the irony of Waymo using a Chinese vehicle for its fleet go unnoticed. “You said in your testimony that we’re locked in a race with China, but it seems like you’re getting in bed with China,” he retorted during the hearing.

“Giving a natural market to a Chinese company to ship us cars is making us better and creating more jobs for Americans? That’s completely ridiculous,” Moreno added.

According to Business Insider, Moreno went on to suggest that Waymo could be sidestepping US laws designed to curb Chinese involvement in sensitive vehicle technologies. He speculated that the company might be using a “backdoor” to avoid complying with the federal connected vehicle rule, which was finalized last year but has not yet been fully implemented.

Peña rejected that characterization. He maintained that the Zeekr vehicles have “no connectivity” and that all of the autonomous systems are installed in the United States. He also argued that leveraging a global supply chain gives Waymo the flexibility to grow faster and build in operational safeguards.

Overseas Operators Raise Flags

Still, the issue of oversight didn’t stop at the hardware. During the hearing, Waymo revealed that in addition to using remote operators in the US, it also has some working overseas.

When asked for a breakdown of operator locations, Peña said he didn’t have exact figures but confirmed that while some are based in the US, others are much farther away, including in the Philippines, Futurism reports.

“They provide guidance,” he argued. “They do not remotely drive the vehicles. Waymo asks for guidance in certain situations and gets an input, but the Waymo vehicle is always in charge of the dynamic driving tasks, so that is just one additional input.”

According to Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, “having people overseas influencing American vehicles is a safety issue,” adding that these are the jobs that Americans should have. He called the use of remote human operators outside the US “completely unacceptable,” according to Business Insider.

In a statement to Carscoops, Waymo emphasized that no remote employees drive the vehicles.

“Waymo’s fleet response teams are located in the U.S. and abroad. As we scale globally – including to London and Tokyo – we need some Fleet Response functions outside of the U.S. It is very important to note, however, their role is never to drive the vehicle remotely. Our technology, the Waymo Driver, is in control of the dynamic driving task, even when it is receiving guidance from remote assistance”, the spokesperson said.

Tesla Joins the Conversation

The vice president of vehicle engineering at Tesla, Lars Moravy, was also in attendance at the Senate hearing. He said that the US needs to “modernize regulations that inhibit the industry’s ability to innovate,” or risk losing the autonomous vehicle race.

“Federal regulations for vehicles have not kept up with the pace of the rapid evolution of technology,” Moravy said. He added that many safety standards still in place were designed decades ago and no longer account for today’s technical realities.

Update: We’ve added quotes from Mauricio Peña and a statement from Waymo.

Electric car startups are everywhere these days, but most struggle to move beyond the hype. Zeekr is one of the rare exceptions. In just five years, Geely Group’s premium EV-focused brand has already rolled out a handful of genuinely impressive models and is making real progress with its battery tech.

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Initially, Zeekr’s models were sold only in China, but the company has since expanded quickly abroad. First came the smaller X, a compact SUV that shares its tech with the Volvo EX30 and Smart #1. Most recently, Zeekr launched the 7X in Australia. It’s been pitched as a Tesla Model Y rival, but can it really measure up to the world’s most popular EV?

QUICK FACTS

After spending time living with the flagship 7X Performance AWD, we came away convinced. It doesn’t just keep up with Tesla’s best, it beats it in several areas, and in some cases, rivals EVs that cost two or even three times more. In short, it’s well worth your attention.

How Much Does It Cost?

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

Three different versions of the 7X are available. The range starts at AU$57,900 (equal to US$40,400 at current exchange rates) for the RWD, undercutting a Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive by AU$1,000 (US$700). Sitting in the middle of the 7X family is the Long Range RWD, priced at AU$63,900 (US$44,500), or AU$5,000 (US$3,500) less than the Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive.

Perched at the top of the line-up is the Performance AWD, starting at AU$72,900 (US$50,800), making it comparatively cheap compared to the AU$89,400 (US$62,300) Model Y Performance All-Wheel Drive.

So, what do you get for your money? The 7X Performance AWD uses a 100 kWh NMC battery and has electric motors at the front and rear, combining to produce a monstrous 475 kW (637 hp) and 710 Nm (524 lb-ft) of torque. Thanks to its advanced 800-volt architecture, it supports DC charging at up to 420 kW and AC charging at 22 kW.

What’s It Like Inside?

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

It’s also a certifiable tech-fest, and this is no more obvious than in the cabin. Unlike Tesla and some competitors like Xpeng, Zeekr hasn’t adopted the same ultra-minimalistic approach that appeals to some but, to us, is usually an exercise in penny-pinching.

After pressing a button on the B-pillar to open the driver’s door, I was immediately struck by the remarkable fit and finish of the 7X’s cabin. Not only does it feel more premium and way more interesting than a Model Y, but it also feels of a higher standard than cars from legacy rivals like Kia’s EV5, and even BMW and Audi. In fact, the 7X’s cabin feels almost as plush as the Lotus Eletre I tested last year, which also comes from Geely but costs three times as much.

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

A 16-inch infotainment display sits in the center of the dashboard and is brilliant. It’s among the snappiest I’ve ever used, thanks to the high-end Qualcomm processor, and is an absolute joy to use.

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Like so many other EVs, it has a smartphone-inspired setup with a swipe-down menu for shortcuts and notifications, as well as an in-depth settings menu. You don’t have to wait even a split second for the screen to load after sitting inside, and if your phone’s connected, Apple CarPlay or Android Auto will load instantaneously.

All the climate control settings are on the screen, and while auto scribes like ourselves often complain about this, it didn’t bother me in the 7X, as it’s easy to use, even on the move. However, I found it could take up to 5 minutes for the AC to start blasting really cold air on hot days.

What Else Makes The Cabin Stand Out?

The 13-inch digital instrument cluster and 36-inch head-up display are also superb, although the cluster offers very little scope for customization, which is a shame.

Zeekr’s designers and engineers were incredibly thoughtful when crafting the 7X’s cabin. There are beautiful knurled metal switches below the screen, metal speaker grilles on the pillars and door panels, and beautiful soft-touch materials across virtually every square-inch of the cabin, even along the lower parts of the door panels.

Elsewhere, there are hidden pockets on the door’s armrests, two 50-watt cooled wireless charging pads, and a gargantuan center console storage area. There are plenty of luxurious features too, including heated and ventilated seats, as well as massage functions for the front pews, which are among the best I’ve ever used. In the rear, there are even electronic sunshades that deploy at the press of a button, and hidden storage draws under the seats.

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

The 7X Long Range RWD and Performance AWD also include a 21-speaker audio system that’s incredibly adjustable and of great quality, although it didn’t sound quite as crisp as I would have liked. Zeekr has also added a panoramic glass roof, and unlike some rivals, it includes a folding shade. There’s even an interior camera on the B-pillar, which displays a live video to the infotainment screen, allowing drivers to keep a watchful eye on their kids at any time.

What About The Trick Doors?

Then there are the doors. As mentioned, they’re electric. From inside, you touch a button, and they will open, using sensors to determine if there’s an object nearby, automatically adjusting how far they’ll open. When entering, the doors can be pulled shut manually or by pressing the same button. The driver can even close the doors by stepping on the brake, just like a Rolls-Royce.

For the most part, these doors work well, although there were occasions when they didn’t open as wide as they could have, even if there was nothing blocking them. Fortunately, the electric functions can be disabled, and they can be used like manual doors.

The 7X also has adaptive Magic Carpet air suspension with Zeekr’s Continuous Damping Control system and five different ride heights, including one where it looks slammed to the ground, and one where it sits high enough for off-roading.

Visibility is good, though the rear window view is very limited. Given how much tech is found inside the 7X, it’s perhaps surprising that there isn’t a digital rearview mirror, similar to what sister brand Polestar uses. Storage space is great with 539 liters (19 cubic-feet) of cargo space, and 1,978 liters (69.8 cubic-feet) with the rear seats folded down. There’s also a 42-liter (1.4 cubic foot) frunk.

How Does It Drive?

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

With a serious amount of power, it’s no surprise that the 7X Performance AWD feels absolutely ferocious in a straight line. Zeekr says it needs just 3.8 seconds to hit 100 km/h, (62 mph) and that’s a figure we were able to match. There’s no need to worry about the acceleration being capped as the battery drains either, as it’ll still run sub-4.0 second times even below 30 percent state of charge.

The ‘Performance’ name could easily lead you to think this is a focused, razor-sharp model like a BMW M or an Audi RS, but that’s not the case. Let me explain.

SUVs, particularly heavy electric ones that place too much emphasis on dynamic handling, often have compromised levels of comfort. Some owners may be willing to live with this for an occasional blast along a mountain road, but for the vast, vast majority of driving scenarios, luxury EVs like the 7X need to feel polished and comfortable. That’s exactly the feeling Zeekr has achieved.

If you throw the 7X aggressively into turns, it offers immense levels of grip, but can feel a little unsettled. Additionally, the front seats offer very little bolstering, so you can slide around while behind the wheel. However, drive it at 80 percent of its capabilities, or below, and it feels just about perfect.

First is the ride. The adaptive suspension offers Comfort, Standard, and Sport options. The first is very supple, but perhaps is a little too floaty. For most of my time with the 7X, I drove it with the ride in Standard mode, finding it remained soft over speed bumps, without bouncing around unnecessarily. Even in the stiffer Sport mode, it feels softer than some other heavy electric SUVs, like the Kia EV5.  

The steering also offers Comfort, Standard, and Sport settings. Regardless of which is selected, the steering remains sharp, even though it lacks communication like virtually all electronic steering systems on the market. Much to my surprise, I left it in Comfort most of the time, enjoying how light and direct the steering was.

Photo Credits: Brad Anderson/Carscoops

Zeekr has also done a superb job of calibrating the brakes, and they feel completely natural, as if there isn’t any regen going on, even though there is. Of course, there is also a one-pedal driving mode, perfect for use in town. However, the one-pedal mode isn’t nearly as strong as some rivals, so unless you lift off the throttle far in advance before a stop, you’ll still need to gently apply the brakes. That’s no drama, as even when driven spiritedly, the big orange calipers feel up to the task.

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Whereas the RWD and Long Range RWD models have 19-inch wheels, the Performance AWD sits on larger 21-inch forged units wrapped in Continental EcoContact7 tires. Grip is good, although there’s quite a bit of tire noise at highway speeds. We suspect the 19-inch wheels are quieter.

Is Zeekr’s ADAS As Polished As The Rest?

Zeekr’s ADAS system is also a good one. It’s enabled just like Autopilot on a Tesla, offering good radar cruise control functionality, as well as active lane centering. During multiple long highway stints, it always kept me in the center of my lane and even includes an automatic lane-change function that worked faultlessly.

However, there was also one time when the entire ADAS system was disabled as I hit a bump while crossing onto a bridge. But, for the most part, it works well.

Interestingly, Australian models use a Mobileye software stack for their ADAS, where in other markets there’s an Nvidia system instead. This system is also included in the recently updated 7X launched in China, which features a 900-volt platform, and it is expected to come to Australia next year. According to some reports, the Nvidia system is even better, but we will have to wait and see.

How Far Can It Go?

Zeekr says the 7X Performance AWD can travel up to 543 km (337 miles) on a single charge and quotes power consumption of 19.9 kWh/100 km. During my time with it, I averaged 21.8 kWh/100 km with an even mix of urban and highway driving.

That’s not great, but it is better than the 22.4 kWh/100 km I averaged in the Audi SQ6 e-tron, even though it has 95 kW (127 hp) less grunt than the Zeekr. Those seeking better efficiency would be wise to opt for either the RWD or Long Range RWD models with driving ranges of 480 km (298 miles) and 615 km (382 miles).

What’s The Verdict?

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops

The Zeekr 7X is superb in almost all areas. Its cabin is a key highlight: not only does it feel way more premium than a Tesla, but it also feels nicer than the excellent BYD Sealion 7, and many other German EVs, for that matter. Vehicles like the 7X have shattered the illusion that you need to buy something from a premium legacy brand, and to pay a hefty price, to get a high-quality vehicle.

While I haven’t had the chance to drive the RWD and Long Range RWD versions, I suspect that these will suit most buyers more than the Performance AWD. Regardless, all three have been competitively priced, offer amazing features, and once again prove that when it comes to EVs, the Chinese do it better than most.

Photos Brad Anderson/Carscoops