Waymo and Toyota partner on bZ4X robotaxis for Japan and UK

Waymo and Toyota have announced a new partnership to produce autonomous electric vehicles for robotaxi services in Japan and the UK. The first vehicles, based on the Toyota bZ4X SUV, will be tested in Japan starting next year, according to a joint statement released on Friday.

Toyota bZ4X to be built with Waymo's self-driving system

Toyota will manufacture the 2027 model of the bZ4X at its Takaoka factory in Japan, integrating Waymo's autonomous driving technology directly into the vehicle during production. The electric SUV is sold as the BZ in the North American market. This marks the first time Toyota will produce a vehicle with Waymo's system installed at the factory, rather than retrofitting existing cars.

The partnership gives Waymo a new vehicle model for its robotaxi fleet and helps Toyota expand its presence in the autonomous vehicle market. The companies described the deal as a conventional vehicle supplier arrangement, but the scope could grow over time.

Japan and UK as first international markets

The initial testing will take place in Japan, where Waymo intends to eventually operate a robotaxi service. The companies also plan to deploy the vehicles in other countries with right-hand drive traffic, including the UK. Waymo has been testing its Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in London for several months and is awaiting permits to launch a commercial robotaxi service there.

This announcement comes 18 months after Toyota and Waymo signed a preliminary agreement to explore developing an autonomous vehicle platform. That earlier agreement was vague, but the new deal appears to be a more concrete step toward bringing Waymo's technology to international markets.

Beyond robotaxis: personal vehicles and safety initiatives

The companies said they will also explore bringing Waymo's autonomous technology to personally owned Toyota vehicles. Additionally, they plan to look at future initiatives that use insights from Waymo's real-world operations to improve safety for other road users.

Hiroki Nakajima, executive vice president of Toyota and a board member, said the collaboration will help scale the technology and bring it to customers in Japan and beyond through Waymo's ride-hailing service. He added that Toyota will continue to explore how integrating vehicles with traffic infrastructure can make roads safer.

The partnership signals a significant international expansion for Waymo, which has been operating autonomous ride-hailing services in several U.S. cities. By working with Toyota, Waymo gains access to a global automaker with manufacturing capabilities and established distribution channels, potentially accelerating its deployment in new markets.