Key facts
- Go raised ¥88.6 billion ($553 million) in its IPO, Japan's largest of 2026.
- The funds will be used for robotaxi development and strategic acquisitions.
- Japan faces a significant shortage of taxi drivers, with numbers falling approximately 20%.
- Go has partnered with Alphabet's Waymo for autonomous driving technology.
- Uber, Wayve, and Nissan plan to pilot robotaxi services in Tokyo by late 2026.
Go, Japan's largest taxi-hailing app, has successfully completed its IPO, raising ¥88.6 billion ($553 million). The company intends to leverage these funds to expand its robotaxi business and pursue strategic acquisitions, aiming to address the critical shortage of drivers in Japan's taxi industry. This shortage is largely attributed to an aging population, with driver numbers having fallen by approximately 20% in recent years.
Go's robotaxi ambitions involve a partnership with Alphabet's autonomous driving subsidiary, Waymo, for technological development. While Go will not invest in developing autonomous driving systems itself, it will handle strategic coordination. The company has not yet set a timeline for fully driverless operations, awaiting technological validation and regulatory approval.
In the interim, Go is enhancing its traditional services by partnering with platforms like Kakao T, Alipay, and WeChat Pay to facilitate bookings for inbound travelers. The company is a dominant player in Japan's ride-hailing market, founded in 1977, with 35 million app downloads, 85,000 partner vehicles, and an 80% market share by usage time across 46 prefectures.
Go is not alone in pursuing the robotaxi future in Tokyo. Uber, in collaboration with Wayve and Nissan, plans to launch a pilot robotaxi service by late 2026, utilizing Wayve's AI Driver technology. Uber is also partnering with S.Ride, and Didi Mobility Japan has similar arrangements for international visitors.