Waymo robotaxis are coming to Tokyo in 2025
Waymo, the autonomous driving technology company owned by Alphabet, announced plans to launch its first international robotaxi testing program in Tokyo starting in early 2025. This marks the company's first venture outside the United States for public road testing.
The Tokyo program is part of Waymo's development initiative called "road trips," where the company tests its self-driving technology across different cities and environments. In Tokyo, Waymo's vehicles will face unique challenges including left-hand driving and navigating one of the world's most densely populated urban centers.
For the Japan launch, Waymo is partnering with local taxi-hailing platform GO and established taxi operator Nihon Kotsu. The initial phase will involve Nihon Kotsu drivers manually operating Waymo's Jaguar I-Pace vehicles to map key areas of Tokyo, including the bustling districts of Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō.
Waymo is currently training Nihon Kotsu's team to operate its specialized self-driving vehicles. After the mapping phase, the company plans to begin autonomous testing with human safety operators behind the wheel.
The announcement comes at an interesting time in the robotaxi industry, following GM's recent decision to shut down its Cruise autonomous vehicle program. This closure also ended a planned partnership between GM, Cruise, and Honda to launch robotaxi services in Tokyo by 2026.
Waymo has extensive experience testing its technology across various U.S. cities, including Miami for wet weather conditions, Death Valley for extreme heat, and urban environments like Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, and Seattle. The Tokyo expansion represents a major step in the company's global ambitions for autonomous driving technology.
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