Key facts
- Waymo plans to launch commercial driverless taxi services in Tokyo next year.
- The service will operate without drivers.
- The initial fleet will be small, with plans to expand to approximately 100 vehicles.
- Regulatory approvals and validation of Waymo's technology are required before launch.
- Waymo began collecting data in Tokyo in 2025 using human-driven vehicles.
Alphabet's autonomous driving unit Waymo plans to launch commercial driverless taxi services in Tokyo next year, a potential leap forward in autonomous driving in Japan. The company, in partnership with Japanese taxi app operator GO and taxi company Nihon Kotsu, aims to have the service operating without drivers from day one.
Initially, the fleet will be small, with plans to expand to approximately 100 vehicles across key Tokyo neighborhoods, contingent upon securing regulatory approvals and validating Waymo's technology and operating model. Waymo began collecting data in Tokyo in 2025 using human-driven vehicles, marking its first public-road operations outside the United States. The companies believe the driverless taxi service could help address Japan's driver shortage and demographic challenges.
Separately, Japanese automaker Nissan is collaborating with British startup Wayve and Uber Technologies on their own robotaxi development efforts.