Toyota will build Waymo's robotaxis in Japan, with fleet testing from 2027

Toyota will assemble a driverless version of its bZ4X at its Takaoka plant in Aichi Prefecture, building the base vehicle and installing Waymo's sensors and computers on the same line, the companies said Friday. The fleet will be tested in Japan from 2027 and later go to the UK "and other Waymo-served markets." Neither company gave a fleet size.

It is the first time a major carmaker will integrate Waymo's hardware at its own factory, and it is Waymo's route into right-hand-drive countries. Waymo's limit has been how fast it can get vehicles, more than how well they drive. Engadget notes it is unclear when the bZ4X will join Waymo's planned Tokyo service. SourcesA B

Sources

AToyota and Waymo advance autonomous driving collaboration (Toyota Europe Newsroom)newsroom.toyota.eu
BWaymo and Toyota will soon start testing their robotaxis in Japan (Engadget)engadget.com

This story ran in the Morning Brief of October 30th 2026.

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