Waymo picks Toyota's bZ4X as its next robotaxi, with Japan testing set for 2027

A factory-built robotaxi for Japan

Waymo will begin testing autonomous vehicles based on Toyota's EV bZ4X in Japan in 2027, and the cars will leave the factory with Waymo's hardware already in them. ^[1] Waymo and Toyota made the announcement on October 30. ^[1]

Waymo is an autonomous driving company under Alphabet, the parent company of Google. ^[1] Toyota will build a custom version of the electric SUV with the Waymo Driver integrated on the line in Japan, and a test fleet will start operating there in 2027. ^[2]

The 2027 operation is strictly for testing and verification. ^[1] No launch date for a service carrying general passengers has been announced. ^[1]

What changes on the assembly line

The robotaxis will be built entirely at Toyota's Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, with Waymo's sensors and computers installed on the assembly line as each car is made. ^[3] Waymo's hardware goes in at the production line stage rather than onto finished cars later. ^[1]

Until now, Waymo bought finished cars from a factory, shipped them to a separate facility, and retrofitted them with sensors, computers, and extra wiring. ^[3] Building the sensor suite and compute into the bZ4X on Toyota's line could help eliminate redundant labor, bespoke brackets, and secondary shipping, and possibly reduce Waymo's costs. ^[3]

Waymo's fleet is mostly made up of Jaguar I-Pace SUVs, a model Jaguar no longer produces. ^[2]

What riders get

The robotaxi-spec bZ4X will include passenger-oriented equipment such as a spacious rear seat area, automatic doors, an electric rear gate, and ambient lighting. ^[1] The changes include extra rear legroom and a power liftgate. ^[2]

Sensor specifications, production volume, and cost per unit of the bZ4X robotaxi have not been disclosed. ^[1]

From a preliminary deal to a build plan

In April 2025, Toyota and Waymo signed a preliminary agreement to collaborate on robotaxis. ^[1] In spring 2025, Waymo teamed up with Nihon Kotsu and the taxi app GO to begin road testing in Tokyo using the Jaguar I-PACE. ^[1]

Initial Tokyo mapping was done by Nihon Kotsu drivers operating vehicles manually to collect map data for Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chuo, Shinagawa, and Koto wards. ^[1] In September, Waymo said it is targeting fully driverless commercial rides in Tokyo in 2027 with Nihon Kotsu and GO, scaling to about 100 vehicles, pending regulatory approval. ^[2]

Toyota and Pony.ai started mass-producing bZ4X-based robotaxis in China earlier in 2026. ^[2]

Where Waymo goes next

Waymo says it will begin initial testing and validation of the bZ4X in Japan starting in 2027, with the vehicles then rolling out to the UK and other international markets. ^[3] Co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov stated that Waymo will start with the right-hand drive markets of Japan and the UK. ^[1]

Dolgov said Toyota's commitment to zero traffic accidents resonates deeply with Waymo. ^[2] He also claims Waymo is up to 20 times safer than human drivers regarding injuries from serious accidents in areas where it operates. ^[1]

Waymo is also working with Woven by Toyota to use its operational and safety telemetry to improve road safety across general vehicle fleets and traffic infrastructure. ^[3] Waymo and Toyota will continue exploring incorporating Waymo's autonomous driving technology into Toyota cars owned by individuals. ^[1]

The scale Waymo is working at

Waymo does over 500,000 paid rides a week across 15 US metros. ^[2] It picked Toronto as its first Canadian city, with riders targeted for 2028. ^[2]

Waymo plans to use $5 billion in borrowed funds to grow its commercial autonomous vehicle fleet fivefold, from about 4,000 vehicles to 20,000 by the end of next year. ^[1]