Toyota and Waymo Plan 2027 Autonomous bZ4X Testing in Japan
The partnership marks Japan's first fully autonomous ride-hailing service using high-volume, domestically manufactured vehicles.
Toyota Motor Corporation and Waymo announced the next phase of their autonomous driving collaboration, with plans to begin initial operations testing an autonomous Toyota bZ4X fleet in Japan in 2027.
What Happened
Building on a preliminary agreement from April 2025, the companies will deploy a fleet of custom-outfitted bZ4X vehicles for fully autonomous ride-hailing services. Toyota will manufacture these vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, where the entire process—from assembling the base vehicle to integrating Waymo’s autonomous hardware—will take place under one roof.
The collaboration aims to scale safety-validated Level 4 autonomous vehicles globally. Initial operations in Japan are scheduled for 2027, with deployment to the United Kingdom and other Waymo-serviced markets planned for subsequent years. The vehicles are designed with accessibility features such as automatic doors, a power liftgate, ambient lighting, and generous rear legroom to facilitate seamless entry and exit for riders.
Why It Matters
This partnership represents a significant milestone for the Japanese automotive market, marking the country’s first fully autonomous ride-hailing service utilizing high-volume, domestically manufactured vehicles. By combining Toyota’s manufacturing scale with Waymo’s autonomy technology, the companies aim to accelerate the global expansion of Level 4 autonomous driving.
Waymo Co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov stated that in areas where the company operates, it has demonstrated safety performance up to 20 times better than human drivers regarding serious crash injuries. The collaboration is positioned to reduce human-error accidents and improve mobility for individuals who face challenges with traditional transportation. Toyota Executive Vice President Hiroki Nakajima emphasized that scaling safety technology to reach as many people as possible is critical for achieving the shared goal of zero traffic accidents.
The Bottom Line
Toyota and Waymo are advancing their joint venture with concrete manufacturing and deployment plans for 2027 in Japan, setting the stage for broader international expansion in the coming years while continuing to explore applications for personally owned Toyota vehicles.
