Waymo and Toyota set 2027 Japan test for bZ4X robotaxis

Waymo and Toyota will begin testing and validating a fleet of autonomous Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles in Japan in 2027, moving their collaboration from a preliminary agreement to a defined vehicle and manufacturing plan. The companies announced the next phase on Oct. 30, with deployment to the United Kingdom and other Waymo-serviced right-hand-drive markets planned in subsequent years.

Toyota will assemble the vehicles and integrate Waymo’s autonomous-driving hardware at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. The process will bring base-vehicle assembly and hardware installation under one roof for the custom-equipped fleet.

The companies have not disclosed the number of vehicles for Japan or a timetable for a broader rollout. Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov said the programme would begin in the right-hand-drive markets of Japan and the U.K., but offered no further countries, dates or operational specifics.

The bZ4X vehicles are to feature rear legroom, automatic doors, a power liftgate and ambient lighting. Toyota and Waymo said their manufacturing and technology combination would help scale safety-validated Level 4 autonomous vehicles globally, with the stated aims of reducing crashes caused by human error and improving mobility for people who struggle to travel independently.

Toyota and Waymo described the Japanese project as paving the way for the country’s first domestically manufactured fully autonomous ride-hailing service. Waymo has also announced a Tokyo plan with Nihon Kotsu and GO, which is preparing an unmanned service for 2027 subject to regulatory approval and completion of technology and operational validation.

The new phase builds on an April 30, 2025, preliminary agreement to develop and deploy autonomous-driving technology. The partners will also continue to explore applications for personally owned Toyota vehicles, while Toyota, Waymo and Woven by Toyota consider safety initiatives based on Waymo’s operational data and technology.

Waymo has said its operations show up to 20 times the safety of human drivers for serious crash injuries. Toyota’s Hiroki Nakajima said the collaboration was intended to bring safety technology to customers in Japan and beyond through Waymo’s ride-hailing service, alongside Toyota’s work on vehicles and traffic infrastructure.