Waymo and Toyota plan BZ robotaxi testing in Japan
Waymo and Toyota have announced a partnership under which Toyota will manufacture 2027 Toyota BZ electric vehicles and integrate Waymo’s self-driving system at its Takaoka factory in Japan. Waymo plans to begin testing the autonomous vehicles in Japan next year, with an eventual aim of operating a robotaxi service there.
The arrangement is also intended to supply electric vehicles for Waymo robotaxi operations in international markets, including the United Kingdom. The initial focus is on countries that drive on the right, a requirement that distinguishes these markets from Waymo’s current US operations.
Toyota becomes a regional vehicle supplier
The announcement follows a preliminary agreement signed by the two companies 18 months ago to explore the development and deployment of an autonomous-vehicle platform. The new statement gives that relationship a more concrete manufacturing role: Toyota will produce the vehicles and install the autonomous driving system at its Japanese plant.
For Waymo, the Toyota BZ adds another model to a robotaxi portfolio that includes autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. The company has been testing those Jaguar vehicles in London for months and plans to launch a robotaxi service in the city once it receives the necessary permits.
The partnership therefore addresses regional deployment needs rather than confirming a single global vehicle platform. In the United Kingdom, the Toyota vehicles could support Waymo’s plans in a right-hand-driving market, while Japan will serve as the first testing location for the new autonomous BZ fleet.
International scaling depends on vehicles and permissions
The differing approaches to expanding autonomous transport are reflected in Waymo and Wayve choose different scaling routes and in the need to match vehicle supply with the rules and operating conditions of each market.
Toyota and Waymo said they will continue to explore bringing Waymo’s autonomous technology to personally owned Toyota vehicles. They also outlined possible future initiatives using insights from Waymo’s real-world operations to improve safety for other road users, although neither company specified what those initiatives would involve.
Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota executive vice president and board member, said the collaboration would help scale the technology through Waymo’s ride-hailing service in Japan and beyond. He added that Toyota would continue to explore how integrating vehicles with traffic infrastructure could make roads safer.
What the deal means for operators
For businesses assessing autonomous mobility, the agreement shows that international expansion requires more than validated driving software. A deployable service must combine locally suitable vehicles, factory-level system integration, testing programmes and the permits needed to carry passengers, making market-by-market planning a practical business requirement.