Waymo, partners agree to launch driverless taxis in Tokyo in 2027

Waymo, Japanese taxi operator Nihon Kotsu, and mobility platform GO announced on Monday that they have formally agreed to launch what would be Japan's first commercial driverless taxi service in Tokyo in 2027, moving beyond supervised testing toward fully autonomous rides for the public.waymo

The service will start with a small fleet before scaling to around 100 vehicles across key Tokyo neighborhoods, with rides bookable through both the GO and Waymo apps — the first time Waymo has committed to dual-app distribution outside the United States. The launch remains contingent on securing regulatory approval from national and local authorities and completing validation of the technology and joint operations.eletric-vehicles+1

From Supervised Driving to Paying Passengers

The announcement marks a shift from the partnership's current phase, in which Waymo's Jaguar I-Pace vehicles have been driving autonomously under the supervision of trained Nihon Kotsu crew members. Waymo said its cars have spent "the past year" driving autonomously through seven central Tokyo wards, "confidently navigating narrow neighborhood roads and safely maneuvering through dense crowds".waymo

The three companies first announced their collaboration in December 2024. Nihon Kotsu drivers initially mapped Tokyo's streets manually before supervised autonomous testing began. Under Japanese transport law, a licensed taxi operator must carry passengers, giving Nihon Kotsu — Tokyo's largest taxi company — the operational role on the ground, while Waymo supplies the autonomous driving system and GO handles rider-facing coordination.eletric-vehicles

Nihon Kotsu president Yasuharu Wakabayashi framed the effort as complementary to human drivers. "This initiative represents a crucial opportunity — one that, while coexisting with human-driven taxis, will help address future driver shortages and pass on a safer, higher-quality transportation infrastructure to the next generation," he said.waymo

Regulatory Path and Competition

Japan permits unmanned Level 4 autonomous operation, but approval is granted against a specific operating plan rather than broadly to an operator, and existing autonomous services in the country are limited to low-speed shuttles and campus loops. Waymo acknowledged it is "working closely with government ministries to secure the necessary permits and licenses," language that suggests approval is not imminent.eletric-vehicles+1

The Tokyo market is increasingly contested. Nissan ran a pilot in Yokohama with autonomous vans from late 2025 into early 2026, also targeting a 2027 commercial launch.eletric-vehicles

Waymo's International Expansion

Tokyo is one of three named international markets for Alphabet's ↗ 3.25% autonomous driving unit, none of which yet have a paying driverless passenger. Waymo announced plans for a London commercial service during 2026 and added Munich in August with a target of late 2027. The company raised $16 billion in February at a $126 billion valuation, writing at the time that it was "laying the groundwork for ride-hailing operations in over 20 additional cities in 2026, including Tokyo and London".eletric-vehicles

Waymo co-chief executive Tekedra Mawakana said the company now delivers over half a million trips per week across 15 U.S. cities and described its system as "over 15 times safer than human drivers".waymo