Toyota and Waymo to Start Robotaxi Trials in Japan in 2027

Toyota Motor and Waymo have announced that they will start testing self-driving taxis in Japan in 2027. The two companies describe the move as taking the autonomous-driving partnership they unveiled in April 2025 "to the next stage".

Waymo will adopt Toyota's bZ4X as a new robotaxi vehicle. Initial operations in Japan, including testing and validation, are due to begin in 2027. The companies call the expansion "a major step toward" Japan's first fully driverless taxi service built on a mass-produced vehicle made in the country.

Built at Toyota's Takaoka plant

The bZ4X units for Waymo will be produced at Toyota's Takaoka plant, where the autonomous-driving hardware will also be installed. The vehicle is designed with rear-seat legroom in mind, along with comfort and easy entry and exit. Features include automatically opening and closing doors, a power tailgate and indirect interior lighting.

Beyond Japan

The bZ4X is not meant only for the Japanese market. Over the following years, it is scheduled to be introduced gradually in other markets where Waymo operates, starting with the United Kingdom. Toyota and Waymo say the aim is to spread Toyota-built Level 4 autonomous vehicles worldwide.

For Japan, the announcement sets a concrete timeline for driverless ride-hailing that uses a domestically produced car rather than an imported platform. For Waymo, it adds a mass-production partner for scaling its fleet across several countries. The companies have not detailed in the material provided where in Japan the trials will take place or how large the initial fleet will be.