Toyota and Waymo to Test Autonomous bZ4X Robotaxi Fleet in Japan From 2027
By Kirsten Korosec · · TexaHub · Robotics, AI in Industry
Toyota and Waymo said on Oct. 30 they will begin testing an autonomous Toyota bZ4X fleet in Japan in 2027, with the vehicles built at Toyota's Takaoka plant. Deployment in the UK and other Waymo markets is planned for later years.
Japan First, Then the UK
Toyota Motor Corporation and Waymo announced on Oct. 30 the next phase of their autonomous driving collaboration, saying they plan to begin initial operations in Japan in 2027 to test and validate a fleet of autonomous Toyota bZ4X vehicles. Deployment to the United Kingdom and other markets served by Waymo is planned for later years. [1]
The bZ4X will be tested in Japan first, where Waymo eventually plans to run a robotaxi service, and the companies intend to deploy it in other right-hand-drive countries such as the UK. Waymo has tested its autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in London for months and plans to launch a robotaxi service there once it receives the necessary permits. [2]
Built at Takaoka
Toyota will build the vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Aichi Prefecture and integrate Waymo's autonomous driving hardware there. [1] The model is sold as the bZ in North America. [2]
The companies did not say how many vehicles would be deployed initially or where in Japan they would operate. [1][2]
From Preliminary Deal to Supply Arrangement
The announcement builds on a preliminary agreement the two companies signed in April 2025 to explore developing and deploying an autonomous vehicle platform. [1] TechCrunch described the new deal as a conventional vehicle-supplier arrangement that adds a model to Waymo's robotaxi lineup and fills specific regional needs. [2]
Toyota and Waymo also said they will explore bringing Waymo's autonomous technology to personally owned Toyota vehicles, along with safety initiatives involving Woven by Toyota that draw on data from Waymo's real-world operations. [1][2]
Executive Comments
Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov said the company has shown it is "up to 20x safer than human drivers" in terms of serious crash injuries in the areas where it operates. [1] Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota executive vice president and board member, said that "no single company can achieve the goal of zero traffic accidents alone" and that the collaboration "will help scale that technology and bring it to customers in Japan and beyond." [1][2]
Nakajima added that Toyota "will continue to explore how integrating vehicles with traffic infrastructure can make those roads safer still." The announcement came 18 months after the preliminary agreement, which TechCrunch described as vague and open-ended. [2]
Sources
[1] Toyota and Waymo advance autonomous driving collaboration for safer streets and freedom of movement for all — Toyota Europe Newsroom
[2] Waymo taps Toyota to supply robotaxis for Japan and the UK — TechCrunch