Waymo is heading to Tokyo in early 2025, marking its first international deployment outside the United States for Alphabet’s autonomous driving division.
As part of the expansion, Waymo will partner with Nihon Kotsu, Japan’s largest taxi operator, and GO, a widely used taxi-hailing app. Unlike its fully autonomous operations in U.S. cities such as Phoenix and San Francisco, Waymo’s vehicles in Tokyo will initially be driven manually by trained drivers employed by Nihon Kotsu.
This will allow Waymo to map critical areas of the city, including major districts like Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōto.
Waymo’s expansion into Japan is driven by both technical and market-specific considerations. Japan operates with left-hand traffic, a stark difference from the right-hand driving environments where Waymo has primarily operated until now, presenting a unique opportunity for Waymo to adapt its self-driving system to a global market.
Additionally, Japan faces a growing shortage of taxi drivers, exacerbated by an aging population. This labour gap has prompted the country to explore autonomous driving solutions, positioning Waymo as a potential solution for improving mobility while alleviating workforce challenges.
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While Waymo has not announced plans for full-scale robotaxi operations in Tokyo, its partnership with Nihon Kotsu and GO signals an interest in long-term collaboration with local transportation providers.
“Our upcoming road trip to Tokyo gives us the chance to work alongside local partners, government officials, and community groups to understand the new landscape,” Waymo said in a press release. “We’ll learn how Waymo can serve Tokyo’s residents and become a beneficial part of the city’s transportation ecosystem.”
