Waymo will begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Tokyo in early 2025. This expansion marks Waymo’s first international venture after securing a partnership with Japan’s largest taxi operator, Nihon Kotsu. The tests will focus on mapping key areas in Tokyo, providing critical data to enhance the AI systems driving the robotaxis.
Waymo to test autonomous vehicles in Tokyo by 2025
Waymo, owned by Alphabet, has yet to announce plans for commercial service in Tokyo. The company will deploy its Jaguar I-PACE vehicles, with Nihon Kotsu drivers initially operating them manually to gather data on regions such as Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō. This data collection effort is critical, as it will inform the training of Waymo’s AI for the unique challenges presented by Tokyo’s urban landscape.
The Tokyo tests comprise the first phase of a longer-term plan involving local partners, government officials, and community groups. This phase is expected to last several quarters as Waymo works to understand how its services can fit into Tokyo’s transportation ecosystem. Additionally, Waymo plans to conduct tests on a closed course in the U.S. designed to replicate the driving conditions in Japan.
This venture into Japan comes on the heels of Waymo’s expanded operations within the United States, which included new testing zones in Miami, Los Angeles, Austin, and Atlanta in 2024. Notably, Tokyo presents its own set of challenges, including left-hand traffic and a densely populated urban environment. Waymo’s prior road trips concentrated on various cities in the U.S., focusing on different conditions such as rain in Miami or heat in California’s Death Valley.
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The Japanese governments view driverless technology as beneficial for addressing the needs of an aging population. Research from the World Economic Forum highlights that Tokyo has designated several areas as “test zones” for autonomous vehicles, helping accelerate efforts to introduce safe driverless transportation in the capital.
The entry of Waymo into Japan also coincides with significant changes in the competitive landscape for robotaxis. General Motors has recently announced it will cease operations of its Cruise robotaxi division, effectively withdrawing from the driverless taxi market in Japan, where it had previously allied with Honda. Honda aims to reconsider its strategy for launching a driverless ride-hail service, initially slated for early 2026, following GM’s exit from the robotaxi sector.
Waymo’s imminent road tests are set against a backdrop of increasing scrutiny regarding the safety and efficacy of autonomous vehicles. With competing efforts from local startups like Tier IV and ZMP, as well as initiatives from companies such as Monet Technologies—a Toyota-affiliated firm—Waymo’s entry into the Japanese market will be closely monitored.
Featured image credit: Waymo
