Waymo has signed a partnership with Toyota to supply autonomous electric vehicles for robotaxi operations in Japan and the United Kingdom. Under the deal announced Friday, Toyota will manufacture 2027 bZ4X electric vehicles and integrate Waymo's self-driving system at its Takaoka factory in Japan, according to TechCrunch.
Testing of the autonomous bZ4X fleet is set to begin in Japan next year, with Waymo ultimately planning to run a commercial robotaxi service there. The companies also intend to deploy the vehicles in other right-hand drive countries, including the UK, where Waymo has been testing its autonomous Jaguar I-Pace cars in London for months.
Toyota bZ4X robotaxis: from Japan to the UK
The autonomous bZ4X will initially be tested in Japan, where Waymo intends to launch a robotaxi service. Engadget reports that after Japan, the companies plan to deploy the vehicles to the UK and other right-hand drive markets in the years that follow.
Toyota will build the vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, where it will also equip them with Waymo's autonomous hardware. The companies said in a statement that pairing Toyota's manufacturing expertise with Waymo's self-driving technology will help accelerate the scaling of safety-validated Level 4 autonomous vehicles globally.
Waymo has been testing its autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in Tokyo since 2025, with drivers from local taxi company Nihon Kotsu training its software on the city's streets. A fully autonomous ride-hailing service is planned for Tokyo next year, though it remains unclear when the bZ4X vehicles will join the commercial fleet.
What it means for you
For now, this is a Japan and UK story: neither Waymo nor Toyota has announced any robotaxi service for Tunisia or North Africa, and there is no timeline for one. Toyota is supplying and building the vehicles, while Waymo contributes the self-driving system, so the partnership looks more like a regional supplier deal than a new consumer car you can buy.
