Waymo and Toyota plan autonomous EV tests in Japan from 2027
Waymo and Toyota will begin testing autonomous bZ4X electric vehicles in Japan in 2027, the companies say. Toyota will build the vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, where Waymo will install its self-driving hardware. The partnership follows a preliminary agreement signed 18 months earlier to explore an autonomous vehicle platform. The companies plan to later deploy the vehicles in the UK and other right-hand drive markets. Waymo also says it is testing Jaguar I-PACE vehicles in Japan and plans a Tokyo ride-hailing service.
Key facts
- Companies have not disclosed how many bZ4X vehicles will initially be deployed.
- Companies have not said which part of Japan the vehicles will operate in.
- Waymo has tested Jaguar I-Pace robotaxis in London for months, pending permits for a launch.
- The companies will continue exploring Waymo tech for personally owned Toyota vehicles.
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Why it matters
Brings Waymo's self-driving technology into mass-produced Toyota vehicles and expands its reach beyond the US.
What changed
First published from TechCrunch, CNA and Engadget