Waymo Expands to Tokyo

The first foreign destination for Waymo will be Tokyo in Japan. The Google sister company announced this in a blog today. There had long been speculation as to where Waymo’s first international expansion would be, and – in other words – it is not Europe.

The reasons are easy to list. The Japanese government and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government have been working proactively for years to meet the changing transportation needs of society and promote the introduction of innovative technologies that can improve safety and mobility. Waymo will work with Japanese policymakers, regulators and local safety authorities to ensure a responsible and seamless implementation of Waymo’s technology on Tokyo’s roads.

Waymo will focus on how robotaxis can serve Tokyo residents and become a useful part of the city’s transportation ecosystem. Not only that. There, Waymo will learn to adapt to left-hand traffic and the driving styles associated with operating in one of the most densely populated urban environments in the world.

The first 25 all-electric Waymo Jaguar I-PACEs will arrive in Tokyo in early 2025 and will initially be driven by safety drivers. The Waymo partner is Nihon Kotsu, Tokyo’s largest cab company. It will take over the support and maintenance of the Waymo vehicles.

This article was also published in German.