What people are discussing on X: Waymo and Toyota plan robotaxi tests in Japan from 2027
An X trending page is headlined on Waymo and Toyota building robotaxis in Japan from 2027. Toyota says the two companies will begin testing an autonomous bZ4X electric fleet in Japan in 2027, built at its Takaoka plant, with the United Kingdom and other Waymo markets to follow in later years. Fleet size and locations have not been disclosed.
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What people are discussing on X this morning is a plan for driverless electric taxis in Japan. This desk opened a trending page on 30 October 2026 titled "Waymo and Toyota to Build Robotaxis in Japan from 2027". X calls it a summary of posts and says the summary may change; it showed a last-updated time of 30 October 2026. The page shows that the topic is trending. It is not the source for the facts below, which come from the companies and two news agencies.
Toyota's announcement, issued in Tokyo on 30 October, says the two companies will begin initial operations to test and validate an autonomous fleet of Toyota bZ4X electric SUVs in Japan in 2027, with deployment to the United Kingdom and other markets where Waymo operates planned for the following years. Toyota says it will build the vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, and that the whole process, from assembling the base car to fitting Waymo's self-driving hardware, will happen under one roof. The companies describe the cars as Level 4, meaning they drive themselves without a human driver within defined conditions. Toyota says the custom bZ4X will have generous rear legroom, automatic doors, a power liftgate, and ambient lighting. The deal builds on a preliminary agreement the companies announced in April 2025.
Several details are still missing. Reuters reports that the companies did not say how many bZ4Xs they will deploy at first or where in Japan they will operate, and that Toyota's chief technology officer said initial operations would use a small number of vehicles. Reuters quotes Waymo co-chief executive Dmitri Dolgov: "We'll start with the right-hand drive markets in Japan and the UK." Dolgov added that the companies had no other countries or timelines to share. Reuters also reports that Waymo is testing Jaguar I-PACE vehicles in Japan and still plans a pilot with them in 2027.
Kyodo News describes the 2027 step as a trial of a fully driverless taxi service, with commercial service as the eventual aim. It quotes Toyota executive vice president Hiroki Nakajima, speaking at an online briefing, as saying the partnership "holds the potential to expand into various areas beyond taxis, including commercial vehicles." Reuters spells his first name Hiroaki. Kyodo reports that Dolgov said Toyota was chosen for its safety technology, reliability, and quality.
The X summary frames the plan as building robotaxis "from 2027." The company text is narrower: 2027 is the start of testing and validation in Japan, and the UK and other markets come later, with no dates given. Toyota's release also includes a safety comparison from Waymo about its record in the areas where it operates. That is Waymo's claim about its own service, and this story does not repeat or assess it.
Earlier this week this desk covered Xpeng's robotaxi demonstration permit in Guangzhou and a U.S. lighting proposal for automated vehicles.
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- Waymo and Toyota to Build Robotaxis in Japan from 2027 (external source)
- Toyota and Waymo Advance Autonomous Driving Collaboration for Safer Streets and Freedom of Movement for All (external source)
- Toyota, Waymo to test autonomous bZ4Xs in Japan in 2027, eye overseas expansion (external source)
- Toyota, Waymo to begin autonomous taxi trial service in Japan in 2027 (external source)