Waymo announced it will deploy Toyota bZ4X electric SUVs equipped with its autonomous driving technology for robotaxi service in Tokyo. Toyota will assemble the vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, integrating Waymo's self-driving sensors and computers directly on the factory assembly line rather than retrofitting finished cars.
The partnership builds on a strategic alliance between Waymo and Toyota first announced in April 2025. Waymo currently operates Jaguar I-Pace vehicles and Zeekr RT-based Ojais, with Hyundai Ioniq 5-based robotaxis deploying soon. The bZ4X represents a third vehicle model and demonstrates Waymo's positioning as a software and systems supplier compatible with multiple platforms.
The on-assembly-line integration approach differs from Waymo's previous method of purchasing finished vehicles and retrofitting them at separate facilities. Building sensors and compute directly into the bZ4X could reduce labor, custom brackets, secondary shipping, and costs.
Waymo plans to begin initial testing and validation in Japan next year. The vehicles will then roll out to the United Kingdom and other international markets for robotaxi operations. Waymo is also exploring integration of its technology into Toyota vehicles for personally owned autonomous cars and working with Woven by Toyota, the automaker's software mobility spinout, to use Waymo's operational and safety data to improve road safety across vehicle fleets and traffic infrastructure.