Toyota, Waymo plan Japan robotaxi tests in 2027

Toyota and Waymo announced on October 30, 2026, that they will begin testing autonomous Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles in Japan in 2027. Toyota will manufacture the Level 4-capable vehicles and install Waymo's autonomous-driving hardware at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture; Waymo will provide the driving technology. Fleet size and operating locations were not disclosed. Toyota Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima said, "Even if the initial operation is small in number, we will actually use it, identify what kinds of issues arise, and then proceed with a safe autonomous taxi service." Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov called the deal "a foundation for taking this technology to large-scale commercial operations" and said, "We'll start with the right-hand drive markets in Japan and the UK," with a vision to extend further but no other countries or timelines to share. The move follows an April 2025 partnership. Separately, Waymo plans about 100 Jaguar I-PACE robotaxis in Tokyo for 2027 with Nihon Kotsu and GO; Nissan with Uber and partners plans Tokyo tests in the second half of 2026. Japan's revised Road Traffic Act took effect in April 2023, lifting the ban on Level 4 driverless driving on public roads. CONTESTED: none in record.