Waymo Taps Toyota for Robotaxis in Japan and the U.K.
Waymo will begin testing self-driving versions of Toyota's electric bZ4X vehicles in Japan next year as part of a broader partnership to expand international robotaxi operations.
Radwan AbdulhadiEditor and technology writer
Expanding International Robotaxi Operations
Waymo will begin testing self-driving versions of Toyota's electric bZ4X vehicles in Japan next year as part of a broader partnership with the automaker. The collaboration aims to provide electric vehicles for robotaxi operations in international markets, including the U.K. Further details are available from TechCrunch in the original source material.
Under the partnership announced Friday, Toyota will manufacture the 2027 bZ4X vehicles and integrate Waymo’s self-driving system at its Takaoka factory in Japan. Notably, this electric vehicle is known as the BZ in the North American market.
Deployment Plans in Japan and the U.K.
The autonomous bZ4X vehicles will initially be tested in Japan, where Waymo intends to eventually operate a robotaxi service. Beyond Japan, the intent is to deploy these vehicles in other right-hand driving countries such as the U.K.
Waymo has already been testing its autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in London for months and plans to launch a robotaxi service there once it receives the necessary regulatory permits.
Evolution of the Toyota and Waymo Partnership
This formal announcement comes 18 months after Toyota and Waymo signed a preliminary agreement to explore the development and deployment of an autonomous vehicle platform. At the time, the arrangement was viewed with cautious uncertainty, leaving plenty of room for interpretation.
For now, the partnership resembles a conventional vehicle supplier deal that helps Waymo fulfill specific regional requirements while simultaneously adding a brand-new model to its expanding robotaxi portfolio.
Beyond Robotaxis and Future Initiatives
While the immediate focus is commercial ride-hailing fleets, the partnership could eventually extend beyond robotaxis. Both companies stated they will continue to look at bringing Waymo’s autonomous technology to personally owned Toyota vehicles in the future.
Toyota and Waymo also announced plans to explore other future initiatives utilizing insights from Waymo’s real-world operations to improve overall road safety for other users. While specific details remain broad, Hiroki Nakajima, executive vice president of Toyota and a board member, offered additional context.
“This collaboration will help scale that technology and bring it to customers in Japan and beyond through Waymo’s ride-hailing service, and in parallel, Toyota will continue to explore how integrating vehicles with traffic infrastructure can make those roads safer still,” Nakajima said in a statement.
Sources
- TechCrunchWaymo taps Toyota to supply robotaxis for Japan and the U.K.
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