A new electric vehicle joins Waymo's global plans
Waymo and Toyota are partnering to prepare autonomous Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles for robotaxi operations in international markets. Testing is expected to begin in Japan next year, with the companies also targeting opportunities in the U.K. and other countries where vehicles drive on the left.
Toyota will build the 2027 bZ4X models at its Takaoka factory in Japan and integrate Waymo's self-driving system. The vehicles will first undergo testing in Japan, where Waymo intends to eventually launch a robotaxi service. In the U.K., the company is already testing autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles and plans to begin a service after securing the required permits.
The agreement also leaves room for collaboration beyond ride-hailing. The companies say they will explore bringing Waymo's autonomous technology to privately owned Toyota vehicles and consider ways to use operational insights to improve road safety, including through closer integration between vehicles and traffic infrastructure.
Adding a locally built electric model could help Waymo adapt its robotaxi network to different markets, while future work on privately owned cars and road systems may broaden the impact of autonomous technology.
