Missy Cummings Calls for Federal Audit of Chinese-Built Waymo Robotaxis

Missy Cummings, an autonomous vehicle researcher at George Mason University, has called for an independent federal investigation into Waymo's new Ojai robotaxis. The former senior safety adviser at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration stated that the vehicles, which are manufactured in China, could serve as inherent spying devices if exploited by foreign adversaries.

Cummings made the comments on the latest episode of the podcast Generation AI. She argued that current assurances from Waymo are insufficient and that a government agency or independent third party needs to inspect the vehicles to determine if they contain hidden surveillance technology or security vulnerabilities.

The scrutiny focuses on the Ojai van, which differs from Waymo's existing fleet of Jaguar SUVs. While the Jags are manufactured in Austria, the Ojai vans are built in China by automaker Zeekr. Waymo states that the vehicles arrive in the United States without connected-car technology. The company then installs its own cameras, sensors, and self-driving systems at a facility in Mesa, Arizona.

Waymo maintains that its vehicles undergo rigorous security testing to protect trade secrets. The company asserts it does not share personally identifiable rider information, vehicle telemetry, or autonomous driving data with vehicle manufacturers. However, Cummings argues that these measures do not eliminate potential risks.

Research firm MoffettNathanson estimates Waymo is on pace to import approximately 5,000 Ojai vehicles this year. This number exceeds the size of the company's existing fleet. The cost difference is substantial, with analysts estimating a completed Ojai costs Waymo about $100,000. In comparison, the Jaguar vehicles cost roughly $200,000.

Cummings noted that robotaxis continuously collect information through cameras and sensors. This data can reveal sensitive details about passengers or the location of secure government sites, such as military bases. She said that while the risk of a vehicle being remotely compromised and turned into a weapon is relatively small, the risk of foreign surveillance and privacy intrusions is higher.

Congress is considering legislative action on the issue. Sens. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, and Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., introduced the Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026. The bill would ban vehicles built in China, even if the self-driving systems are American. The bill cleared the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously in July.

Cummings stopped short of endorsing an outright ban, stating she prefers stronger technical oversight to identify specific risks. She proposed handing the inspection job to federally funded research and development centers, such as MIT Lincoln Laboratory, because they have security expertise and are independent of industry and government.

The researcher also highlighted that U.S. regulators currently lack the technical capacity to inspect advanced AI systems. Federal agencies capable of performing the work are understaffed and underfunded. She noted that some support for the ban comes from a lobby in America aiming to promote the domestic automotive sector.

For passengers, Cummings said the privacy issue extends beyond Chinese manufacturing. She advised riders to be concerned about what happens to their data regardless of who records it. She recommended that passengers never talk about anything they would not be willing to see on the Internet.