Waymo and Toyota Team Up on Robotaxi Based on bZ4X, First Tests in Japan

Under the Waymo Toyota partnership, Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles will be used for Waymo's robotaxi service. In an announcement on October 30, 2026, the companies said testing of autonomous bZ4X vehicles will begin in Japan next year. With this step, Waymo aims to take its robotaxi service overseas.

How will production and integration work?

Toyota will build the 2027 model bZ4X. Waymo's driverless driving system will be integrated into the vehicles at Toyota's Takaoka plant in Japan. The electric model is sold in North America as the BZ.

According to Bloomberg HT, the announcement came 18 months after the two companies signed a preliminary agreement to develop and launch an autonomous vehicle platform. For now, the partnership looks like a conventional vehicle supply deal that adds a new model to Waymo's robotaxi fleet to meet regional needs.

Japan first, then the UK

In the first phase, the autonomous bZ4X vehicles will be tested in Japan, where Waymo plans to offer robotaxi service in the future. The goal is to deploy the vehicles in other markets that drive on the left and use right-hand-drive cars, such as the UK.

Waymo has been testing autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in London for months. The company plans to launch a robotaxi service there once it obtains the necessary permits.

Road safety and personal vehicles

The two companies also plan to work on projects aimed at improving road safety. These projects will draw on data Waymo has collected in real traffic conditions. Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota's deputy president, said Waymo aims to bring robotaxi services and self-driving to a wider audience. Toyota, for its part, wants to improve the integration between its vehicles and traffic infrastructure.

The companies also said they will continue to evaluate bringing Waymo's autonomous technology into Toyota's personal vehicles. The technical scope and timeline for this work have not yet been clarified.