TOKYO: Toyota Motor Corp and Waymo will test and validate an autonomous Toyota bZ4X fleet in Japan in 2027, with deployment to the United Kingdom and other Waymo-serviced markets planned in the following years.
This autonomous driving collaboration builds on the preliminary agreement announced in April 2025.
Toyota says this partnership marks a major milestone in the expansion of Japan's first fully autonomous ride-hailing service using high-volume, domestically manufactured vehicles.
Toyota will build the vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The entire process will take place under one roof, from assembling the base vehicle to integrating Waymo's AV hardware.
By pairing Toyota's global manufacturing and vehicle development expertise with Waymo's fully autonomous technology, the companies will accelerate scaling safety-validated Level 4 autonomous vehicles globally.
Beyond safety, the custom-outfitted bZ4X is designed for comfort and greater accessibility.
Generous rear legroom and features such as automatic doors, a power liftgate and ambient lighting will provide seamless entry and exit for riders.
"Toyota's commitment to zero traffic accidents resonates deeply with us at Waymo, and we're proud to work together toward safer roads for all," said Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov.
"In areas where Waymo operates, we've demonstrated that we are up to 20x safer than human drivers when it comes to serious crash injuries, and our partnership with Toyota will help us bring the safety and convenience of autonomous driving to more people around the world, including key international markets like Japan," he added.
Toyota executive vice president Hiroki Nakajima said, "Safety technology makes the biggest difference when it reaches as many people as possible. This collaboration will help scale that technology and bring it to customers in Japan and beyond through Waymo's ride-hailing service, and in parallel, Toyota will continue to explore how integrating vehicles with traffic infrastructure can make those roads safer still."
