Official announcements from Waymo, Japanese regulatory bodies, or news reports

Waymo to Test Electric Jaguar SUVs in Tokyo in Early 2025, Marking First International Expansion with Nihon Kotsu and GO

Dec 17, 2024, 10:20 AM

Waymo, the self-driving technology unit of Alphabet Inc., has announced plans to begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Tokyo in early 2025. This marks Waymo's first international expansion, as the company partners with Japan's largest taxi operator, Nihon Kotsu, and the taxi app GO. The testing will involve a fleet of electric Jaguar I-PACE SUVs, which will initially be manually operated to map key areas of the city. This initiative aims to adapt the vehicles to Japan's unique driving conditions, including left-hand traffic. The announcement reflects Waymo's strategy to expand its operations beyond the United States, where it has been successfully testing its autonomous technology. The company has expressed excitement about the opportunity to introduce its driverless technology in one of the world's busiest urban environments.