Waymo to Launch 100‑Vehicle Tokyo Robotaxi Service in 2027
Waymo, the Alphabet‑backed autonomous‑driving company, announced on 15 September 2026 that it will commence a fully autonomous ride‑hailing service in Tokyo in 2027. The service will be delivered in partnership with Japanese taxi operator Nihon Kotsu and mobility platform GO, allowing passengers to book both conventional taxis and Waymo’s driverless vehicles via the GO app, while the Waymo app will also provide the service.
The companies have been collaborating in Tokyo since 2025, during which Waymo’s vehicles performed supervised autonomous driving on city streets and Nihon Kotsu staff assisted in adapting the system to Tokyo’s narrow roads, dense traffic and left‑hand traffic configuration. The launch is contingent on obtaining national and local regulatory approvals and completing safety and operational validation, with both Waymo and the partners engaging relevant government ministries to secure the necessary permits and licenses.
The initial rollout will involve a small fleet, which Waymo intends to scale to roughly 100 autonomous vehicles operating across key Tokyo neighbourhoods after the validation phase. The rollout will give Waymo a foothold in Japan’s taxi market and enable GO and Nihon Kotsu to augment their existing booking and taxi networks with autonomous rides.
Waymo currently reports more than 500,000 autonomous trips per week and operates in 15 cities worldwide, describing the Tokyo launch as the next stage of its international expansion. The Japanese government is promoting autonomous mobility to mitigate the challenges of an aging population and projected driver shortages, and Tokyo has already designated specific zones for Level‑4 autonomous‑driving services, although the Waymo robotaxi will still require full regulatory clearance.
The partnership between Waymo, GO and Nihon Kotsu was first announced in December 2024, when Waymo began adapting its technology for left‑hand traffic and the dense urban environment of Tokyo.