Toyota Motor Corporation and Waymo have announced the next phase of their autonomous driving collaboration, building on a preliminary agreement from April 2025. Starting in 2027, the companies will begin initial operations to test and validate an autonomous bZ4X fleet in Japan.
Deployment to the United Kingdom and other Waymo-served markets is planned for the following years. The project is intended to expand Japan’s first fully autonomous ride-hailing service using high-volume, domestically manufactured vehicles.
Building Level 4 Vehicles Under One Roof
Toyota will build the vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. The entire process happens in one place, from assembling the base vehicle to integrating Waymo’s autonomous driving hardware. The companies say they will combine Toyota’s manufacturing and vehicle development expertise with Waymo’s fully autonomous technology to scale safety-validated Level 4 vehicles.
The custom-outfitted bZ4X is designed for comfort and accessibility. It offers generous rear legroom, automatic doors, a power liftgate and ambient lighting to make entry and exit easier for riders.
Safety Goals and Wider Plans
Waymo says it has demonstrated that it is up to 20 times safer than human drivers in terms of serious crash injuries in the areas where it operates. Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov said the company chose Toyota for its respect for the brand’s safety, reliability and quality. A Toyota executive said no single company can reach zero traffic accidents alone, and that the partners will also explore how vehicles can integrate with traffic infrastructure.
Toyota and Waymo will also explore autonomous driving technology for personally owned Toyota vehicles. Alongside Woven by Toyota, they plan additional initiatives on road safety, including how insights from Waymo’s real-world operations and data can improve safety for other road users.