Waymo Readying to Launch Robotaxis in Japan
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Waymo has a kind of Japanese sounding name, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not Japanese of course, but the self-driving vehicle company under the Alphabet umbrella is planning its move into one of the places most obsessed with new, futuristic tech. For as long as I can remember, the Japanese have loved being at the cutting edge of technology. The country is a bit behind when it comes to self-driving vehicles — with leadership in this field clearly coming from the United States and China — but that’s probably due in large part to the slow-moving, conservative nature of the country’s major legacy automakers (Toyota, Honda, etc.).
Without its own robotaxi startups, it’s very fitting and unsurprising that Japan is one of the first places outside of the United States that Waymo is headed. The company’s robotaxis are supposed to launch in Japan next year, in partnership with popular mobility platform GO.
“Imagine opening the GO or Waymo app after a late night after the subways have closed, or stepping out of a business meeting needing a refuge for a follow-up call. Your ride pulls up and you hop into a completely empty, fully autonomous vehicle. Soon, this will be a reality for riders in Tokyo,” Waymo writes. “Building on Waymo’s foundation of serving tens of millions of commercial fully autonomous trips across 15 major US cities, Waymo, Nihon Kotsu, and GO have officially agreed to prepare for the commercial launch of an unmanned Tokyo ride-hailing service in 2027.”
Note that Waymo has been sticking its nose into Japan’s business for a while — since 2025 actually. This year has been about getting ready for the 2027 launch. Here’s how Waymo summarizes it:
“Since Waymo arrived in Tokyo in 2025, our three companies have worked to prepare to serve riders. Over the past year, Waymo vehicles have learned the streets like a local, driving autonomously while supervised by trained Nihon Kotsu crew members—confidently navigating narrow neighborhood roads and safely maneuvering through dense crowds.
“By combining Waymo’s industry-leading autonomous driving technology, GO’s premier mobility platform and rider reach, and Nihon Kotsu’s nearly century-long legacy of taxi operations and trusted service, we are building an on-demand, 24/7 service tailored to local expectations. This dependable new option will complement Tokyo’s world-renowned transportation network, while helping Japan support an aging population and address future labor shortages.”
Waymo could find a lot of business in Japan if things go well there.
Again, as in the US, Waymo is putting a strong emphasis on safety here. That seems quite wise in general, but especially when trying to appeal to an aging, conservative, techno-enthusiast population. “Scaling autonomous mobility requires relentless dedication to safety and execution,” Tekedra Mawakana, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Waymo, says. “Today, Waymo delivers over half a million trips each week while demonstrated to be over 15 times safer than human drivers. Expanding to Tokyo with our partners GO and Nihon Kotsu is the next chapter in that journey. By pairing our proven technology with the highest standards of local hospitality and operations, we look forward to earning the trust of Tokyo’s riders as they experience the magic of Waymo.”
Waymo’s partners are also happy — for now, at least (remember that Waymo and one of its earliest partners, Uber, have had a sort of falling out recently, perhaps because of Waymo getting more ambitious in its own service and no longer feeling a need for support from Uber). “Since our announcement in December 2024, we have been making steady progress in collaboration with Waymo, Nihon Kotsu, and various other stakeholders. We are very pleased to be able to share this progress with the people of Japan,” said Hiroshi Nakajima, President of GO. “Users will be able to hail both conventional taxis and autonomous trips with Waymo directly through the ‘GO’ taxi app. To deliver this new mobility experience, we are launching as a full commercial service.”
Sounds good. On to Tokyo. Where to after that?
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