Toyota Motor and Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company owned by Alphabet, have announced plans to test self-driving electric vehicles in Japan in 2027 as they move towards expanding robotaxi services into international markets.
The partnership will use Toyota’s bZ4X electric SUV, which will be equipped with Waymo’s autonomous driving technology. The initiative is expected to support the development of fully driverless ride-hailing services in Japan, with the United Kingdom also being considered for future expansion.
Under the agreement, Toyota will manufacture the vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. The facility will handle both vehicle production and the installation of Waymo’s self-driving hardware.
The companies said the collaboration combines Toyota’s vehicle manufacturing experience with Waymo’s expertise in autonomous driving technology. Their shared goal is to expand the availability of Level 4 autonomous vehicles, which can perform driving tasks without human intervention within designated operating conditions.
Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov said the partnership would help bring autonomous transportation to more people, including important international markets such as Japan.
The companies also confirmed that they intend to explore opportunities in the United Kingdom and other markets in subsequent years. However, specific expansion dates and the number of vehicles to be deployed have not yet been announced.
The bZ4X vehicles are expected to feature improvements designed to make autonomous transportation more comfortable and accessible. These include generous rear passenger space, automatic doors, a power liftgate and interior ambient lighting.
Beyond robotaxi services, Toyota and Waymo are also exploring ways to introduce autonomous driving technology into privately owned Toyota vehicles in the future.
The partnership represents another important development in the global competition to commercialise self-driving technology. As automakers and technology companies invest in autonomous mobility, collaborations such as this could help accelerate the adoption of driverless transportation.
For Toyota and Waymo, the planned Japanese testing programme will provide an opportunity to evaluate their technology in a new market while preparing for wider international expansion.
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