Waymo to Test Robotaxis in Tokyo in 2025 with Nihon Kotsu and GO

Dec 17, 2024, 01:03 AM

Waymo, the autonomous vehicle division of Alphabet Inc., has announced plans to begin testing its robotaxis in Tokyo in early 2025, marking its first international expansion. The company will partner with Nihon Kotsu, Tokyo's largest taxi operator, and the taxi-hailing app GO for this venture. Initially, Waymo's fleet of Jaguar I-Pace vehicles will be driven manually by Nihon Kotsu drivers to map key areas of Tokyo, including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō. This phase will help train Waymo's AI systems for left-hand traffic and dense urban environments. The move follows Waymo's successful operations in several U.S. cities and comes amidst a backdrop of Japan's aging population and a shortage of taxi drivers, making autonomous vehicles an attractive solution for transportation needs.