Toyota Motor and Waymo have formally announced plans to begin “initial operations” of the bZ4X in Japan in 2027 as an autonomous taxi for Waymo. Production will take place at the Takaoka Plant in Aichi, with subsequent expansion into overseas markets, including the UK.
On 30 October 2026, Toyota Motor and Waymo announced plans to begin initial operations in Japan in 2027 for the Toyota bZ4X as an autonomous taxi for Waymo, including testing and validation. Initial operations will cover everything from vehicle assembly to installation of autonomous-driving equipment, with the aim of introducing the vehicles in stages in Japan. The timing of expansion into overseas markets was presented separately from the Japanese launch, with plans to expand sequentially.
The base vehicles will be assembled and Waymo’s autonomous-driving equipment installed at the Takaoka Plant in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture. Specifications intended to provide passengers with a comfortable experience are also being considered, including increased rear-seat legroom, automatically opening and closing doors, a powered tailgate and interior lighting. A production system in which the vehicles and autonomous-driving equipment are assembled at the same plant has thus taken shape.
The companies aim to promote autonomous vehicles corresponding to SAE Level 4. The design assumes high driving automation, under which the system performs all driving operations within specified conditions, and does not presuppose operation across all roads and weather conditions. The launch of a commercial service for the general public in Tokyo will be conditional on satisfying national and local government approval requirements and completing validation.
Following the basic agreement reached in April 2025, the vehicle model and production system have become more concrete. Waymo has indicated plans to conduct validation on public roads in Tokyo in collaboration with 日本交通 and GO. By combining development and production of the bZ4X with Waymo’s autonomous-driving technology, the companies have clarified their policy of pursuing mass production and initial operations in Japan in parallel.