Waymo To Begin Testing Autonomous Vehicles In Japan

The American robotaxi company Waymo—owned by Alphabet—announced yesterday that it will begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Tokyo, Japan, next year, the company’s first international expansion.

In the press release, Waymo explained that they have partnered with the Japanese companies GO—a taxi-hailing application— and Nihon Kotsu—popular taxi and limousine service providers in the region—for this expansion.

“Our upcoming road trip to Tokyo gives us the chance to work alongside local partners, government officials, and community groups to understand the new landscape,” wrote the company in the statement. “ We’ll learn how Waymo can serve Tokyo’s residents and become a beneficial part of the city’s transportation ecosystem.”

The startup has acknowledged challenges for its system, like adjusting to left-hand traffic, in a different culture. According to the document, this partnership aligns with the Japanese government’s mission of developing innovative technology to improve mobility and safety.

Toyota recently partnered with the Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT)—partly owned by the Japanese government—to reach a “society with zero traffic accidents” with new mobility AI software.

Waymo said the first vehicles, all-electric Jaguar I-PACEs, will arrive in Japan in early 2025 and Nihon Kotsu drivers will be driving the vehicles manually at the beginning to map routes across the Japanese capital. The introduction of the vehicles to the routes will allow Waymo’s AI-powered software Waymo Driver to adjust to the new environment.

This year, Waymo developed strategies and built multiple partnerships to expand in the United States. In August the company deployed its vehicles on San Francisco freeways, in September Waymo partnered with Uber to expand to Atlanta and Austin, and with Hyundai in October to add more EV taxis to its fleet.