Toyota to Manufacture Waymo's Autonomous bZ4X Robotaxis in Japan, Testing Begins in 2027
- Published
- Source
- AIInsider
Toyota has announced plans to manufacture autonomous bZ4X vehicles equipped with Waymo's self-driving technology at its Takaoka plant in Japan, with fleet testing scheduled to commence in 2027. This initiative marks a significant expansion of the collaboration between the two companies, which began in April 2025, aiming to create Japan's first fully autonomous ride-hailing service using domestically produced vehicles.
The partnership is designed to enhance the deployment of Level 4 autonomous vehicles, which can operate without human intervention under specific conditions. The custom bZ4X will feature enhancements for accessibility, including extra rear legroom and automatic doors, to facilitate easier entry and exit for passengers. Toyota and Waymo also plan to extend their robotaxi services to the United Kingdom and other markets in the future.
Toyota and Waymo's collaboration aims to reduce traffic accidents caused by human error and improve transportation access for individuals with mobility challenges. No specific details regarding the number of vehicles in the fleet, financial terms, or deployment timelines for the U.K. were disclosed at the time of the announcement.
Original report
Toyota to Build Waymo Robotaxis in Japan, With Fleet Testing Set for 2027
AIInsider · Greg BockThis briefing is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting and is provided for industry information and news discovery. The original report and source publication are credited and linked where applicable. RobotToday does not claim ownership of third-party source material.
Rights concerns? Contact [email protected] with the relevant URL and details. We will review the matter and take appropriate action where warranted.
More related news
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
-
5
ROBOTTODAY Weekly October 19 – 23, 2026 RobotToday · 6 days ago
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
-
10
RobotToday Weekly October 12 – 16, 2026 RobotToday · 1 week ago
- 11
- 12
Related Suppliers
Toyota
Japan
Toyota City, Japan automaker whose Partner Robot Division builds the HSR mobile manipulator, T-HR3 humanoid, and Welwalk rehabilitation robot.
Toyota Material Handling Group
Japan
Materials handling business of Toyota Industries; lift trucks plus automated tow tractors, stackers and reach trucks under Toyota and Raymond brands
Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc.
United States
Toyota Material Handling is the #1-selling forklift brand in the U.S. since 2002, offering forklifts, AGVs, and AMRs assembled in Columbus, Indiana.
Waymo
United States
Alphabet's autonomous driving subsidiary operating Waymo One robotaxi service across 10 US cities with 500,000+ weekly rides.
Lyft
United States
US rideshare platform deploying robotaxis via asset-light partnerships with Waymo, Mobileye, May Mobility and Baidu.
Autonomous Solutions, Inc.
United States
Utah firm automating off-road vehicles since 2000; its Mobius software commands mixed fleets, and it acquired mower maker Scythe Robotics in 2026.
University of Michigan, Mobile Robotics Lab
United States
Ann Arbor, Michigan university lab founded 2006 by Prof. Ryan Eustice; studies SLAM and perception for underwater, ground and automotive robots.
Xiangdao Mobility 享道出行
China
SAIC-backed Shanghai ride-hailing platform (est. 2018) pivoting to robotaxi with Momenta-developed autonomous driving tech; refiled HK IPO in 2026.
QCraft 轻舟智航
China
Chinese autonomous-driving company founded by ex-Waymo engineers, building L4 self-driving software and the Driven-by-QCraft sensor-and-compute suite.
HORIBA MIRA Ltd.
United Kingdom
UK automotive engineering consultancy founded 1946 as the Motor Industry Research Association; acquired by HORIBA in 2015, with an 850-acre proving ground.
Kettering University
United States
U.S. STEM university with dedicated robotics programs and the only autonomous-vehicle test track on a college campus.
AutoX Inc. 安途科技
China
California-founded autonomous vehicle company operating Level 4 driverless RoboTaxi services in China, with the largest fully driverless fleet in the country.
Robotics needs a service framework.
RSF defines a common language for robot service capability, lifecycle operations, certification pathways, and service-provider networks.
Join the RobotToday community on LinkedIn
Daily robotics news, in-depth analysis, conference highlights, and discussions with professionals worldwide.
