Waymo and Toyota to test robotaxis in Japan in 2027
Toyota and Waymo will start testing a fleet of autonomous bZ4X electric cars in Japan in 2027, with the UK and other right-hand drive markets to follow.
The facts
- According to Engadget, Toyota and Waymo will start testing an autonomous fleet of Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles in Japan sometime in 2027.
- The companies plan to take the vehicles to the UK and other right-hand drive markets in the years after Japan.
- Toyota is building the cars at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, and fitting them with Waymo's autonomous driving hardware.
- Waymo plans to launch a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Tokyo next year. It is unclear when the bZ4X will join its commercial fleet.
Case notes · Danny's take
Why it matters
Waymo has the driving software. Toyota has the factories. Pairing them is how a robotaxi stops being a pilot and starts looking like a product you can build in volume. The choice of right-hand drive markets is also telling: Japan and the UK drive on the same side of the road, so one vehicle design can serve both. Watch who controls the car and who controls the software. That split usually decides who keeps the margin.
For builders
Robotaxi makers are leaning on established carmakers for manufacturing. If you build mapping, fleet management, charging or safety-validation tools, partnerships like this show where the demand will come from.
Not financial advice. Do your own investigation.
This story was summarised with AI from Engadget's reporting and checked against our editorial policy. Danny's take reflects his views. Disclaimer.
Danny Walter
Founder of Moon Republic, Volt Terminal and Moon Republic Academy. Author of The Market Is a Crime Scene and After the Applause.