Key facts
- Waymo will test autonomous Toyota bZ4X vehicles in Japan starting next year.
- Toyota will manufacture and integrate Waymo's self-driving system into the bZ4X at its Takaoka factory.
- The partnership aims to deploy robotaxis in the U.K. and potentially other right-hand driving countries.
- Future initiatives will focus on using Waymo's operational data to improve road safety.
Waymo is expanding its robotaxi operations internationally by partnering with Toyota to supply autonomous vehicles for testing and deployment in Japan and the U.K. The partnership, announced Friday, will see Toyota manufacture the 2027 bZ4X electric vehicles and integrate Waymo's self-driving technology at its Takaoka factory in Japan. Waymo plans to test the vehicles in Japan with the eventual goal of launching a robotaxi service there, and also intends to deploy them in other right-hand driving markets like the U.K., where it has been testing autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. This collaboration builds on a preliminary agreement signed 18 months ago and could extend beyond robotaxis to include Waymo's technology in personally owned Toyota vehicles, as well as initiatives to improve road safety.