Summary
Toyota and Waymo plan to begin testing and validating an autonomous bZ4X fleet in Japan in 2027. Toyota will assemble the vehicles and integrate Waymo’s autonomous-driving hardware at its Takaoka plant.
Toyota Motor Corporation and Waymo say they will begin initial operations in Japan in 2027 to test and validate a fleet of autonomous Toyota bZ4X vehicles. The companies describe the work as the next phase of a collaboration first announced in April 2025. Deployment to the United Kingdom and other markets where Waymo operates is planned for later years.
The announcement sets out a testing and validation programme, not a date for the start of a public ride-hailing service. Waymo presents the partnership as part of expanding its autonomous ride-hailing operations internationally.
Toyota will assemble the vehicles and integrate Waymo hardware
Toyota says it will build the bZ4X vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. The company describes the process as taking place under one roof, from assembly of the base vehicle through installation of Waymo’s autonomous-vehicle hardware.
The companies say the partnership brings together Toyota’s vehicle development and manufacturing capabilities with Waymo’s autonomous-driving technology. Their stated aim is to scale Level 4 vehicles that have been safety-validated. Level 4 is a category of driving automation designed to handle driving tasks within its intended operating conditions without requiring a person to continuously supervise the vehicle. The announcement does not specify the locations or operating conditions for the planned Japanese testing.
The bZ4X is being adapted for ride-hailing
Waymo says the custom-outfitted bZ4X is designed with rider comfort and accessibility in mind. Features identified in the announcement include generous rear legroom, automatic doors, a power liftgate and ambient lighting, intended to make entering and leaving the vehicle easier.
The companies also plan to explore possible uses of autonomous-driving technology in personally owned Toyota vehicles. Alongside Woven by Toyota, they will consider whether insights from Waymo’s real-world operations and data-driven systems could contribute to road safety more broadly. These are exploratory efforts described alongside the planned fleet testing, rather than announced products or deployment programmes.
For now, the firmest milestone is the planned start of Japanese testing in 2027. Toyota and Waymo have not given a fleet size or a public-service launch date in this announcement.