Waymo Aims to Launch in Tokyo in 2027

Waymo, based in Mountain View, California, brought its first vehicles to Tokyo last year to begin initial testing. This made Japan the first region outside the U.S. where Waymo vehicles were deployed, with the added challenge that Japan drives on the left and its streets are much narrower than in the U.S.

Waymo’s partners in the tests to date have been GO, which provides a taxi app, and Nihon Kotsu, one of Japan’s largest taxi and limousine service providers.

With these two partners, Waymo aims to launch a commercial driverless robotaxi service by 2027. Waymo, together with its partners, is actively expanding its operations on the ground and working closely with the relevant ministries to obtain the necessary permits and licenses. This timeline is contingent upon the granting of regulatory approvals by national and local authorities, as well as the completion of the ongoing validation of Waymo’s technology and our joint operational procedures. The service will be accessible via both the GO and Waymo apps and will initially launch with a small fleet before gradually expanding to approximately 100 vehicles in Tokyo’s major districts.

This article was also published in German.