Toyota and Waymo plan Japan robotaxi tests in 2027, target overseas markets

Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving subsidiary, has announced plans to begin robotaxi testing in Japan in 2027 in cooperation with Japanese automaker Toyota, with prospects for overseas expansion.

According to a statement, the announcement marks the next phase of the partnership between Waymo and Toyota, building on the preliminary agreement reached in April 2025. The companies plan to test and validate a fleet of autonomous Toyota bZ4X vehicles in Japan in 2027, with subsequent expansion to the U.K. and other markets where Waymo operates.

The fleet

Toyota bZ4X vehicles will be assembled and equipped with Waymo’s autonomous driving hardware at Toyota’s Takaoka plant. The companies expect their partnership to accelerate the global deployment of safety-validated Level 4 autonomous vehicles, helping reduce road hazards and improve safety.

Other prospects

Toyota and Waymo also aim to advance autonomous driving technology for privately owned vehicles and explore additional initiatives to improve road safety.

Previously, Kursiv.media reported that inDrive, Pony.ai and NVIDIA had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the potential launch of autonomous taxi services in Kazakhstan. Astana is expected to serve as the project’s first test city, with rides to be booked through the inDrive app.