Robotaxi from the factory: Toyota to build Waymo's driverless system in on the line
Waymo and Toyota unveil their first joint robotaxi. Testing in Japan starts in 2027, with the UK and other left-hand-traffic countries to follow later.
Symbolic image · Photo: ajay_suresh / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Alphabet subsidiary Waymo and Toyota on Friday unveiled their first joint robotaxi. Toyota is to build a customized version of its bZ4X electric SUV and integrate the Waymo Driver autonomous driving system during production at its Takaoka plant in Aichi Prefecture. Rider features include extra rear legroom and automatic doors. The companies gave no details on sensors, volumes or costs.
A test fleet is to operate in Japan in 2027. In Tokyo, Waymo is targeting fully driverless commercial rides in 2027, according to Electrek – together with taxi operator Nihon Kotsu and the GO app, with around 100 vehicles and pending regulatory approval. Later, the vehicles are to go to other left-hand-traffic countries, with the UK named explicitly. Waymo has been testing in London for months and plans to launch there once it has the necessary permits.
The partners signed a preliminary agreement in April 2025. They also plan to explore how Waymo's technology could reach Toyota's personal vehicles and how real-world operating data could improve safety for other road users. According to Electrek, Waymo provides more than 500,000 paid rides per week across 15 U.S. metro areas. "Toyota's commitment to zero traffic accidents resonates deeply with us at Waymo," said co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov.