Waymo and Toyota have announced that they will commence testing their robotaxi services in Japan using autonomous Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles sometime in 2027. This initiative follows a preliminary agreement established between the two companies in April 2025 to collaborate on autonomous ride-hailing solutions. After completing the testing phase in Japan, the partners intend to deploy these vehicles to other right-hand drive markets, with the United Kingdom identified as a key target for future expansion.
The bZ4X models selected for this project represent Toyota's first modern mass-market electric vehicle built on the e-TNGA platform developed jointly with Subaru. Production and assembly of the units designated for Waymo will take place at Toyota's Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. At this facility, the automaker will also equip the vehicles with Waymo's specific autonomous driving hardware.
In a joint statement, the companies emphasized that combining Toyota's global manufacturing and vehicle development expertise with Waymo's fully autonomous technology aims to accelerate the scaling of safety-validated Level 4 autonomous vehicles worldwide. The new bZ4X fleet will operate alongside Waymo's existing vehicles in the country. Waymo previously began testing self-driving Jaguar I-PACE taxis in Japan in 2025, utilizing drivers from Tokyo taxi company Nihon Kotsu Co. to navigate the capital and train the software. Building on these efforts, Waymo is scheduled to launch a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Tokyo next year, although it remains unclear when the bZ4X vehicles will be integrated into the commercial fleet.
Sources: Engadget.