日本交通, GO and Waymo jointly announced in Tokyo that they aim to commercialize driverless taxis in Tokyo in 2027. Initial vehicles will be Jaguar i-PACEs equipped with Waymo Driver, with driverless operations planned for limited areas. However, legal responsibility in the event of an accident remains an issue.
At a press conference, 日本交通, GO and Waymo formally announced plans to launch commercial taxi operations in Tokyo during 2027 using fully driverless Level 4 vehicles. The initial vehicles are expected to be Jaguar’s i-PACE EVs equipped with the fifth-generation Waymo Driver, with operations planned for specific areas and routes in central Tokyo.
Level 4 autonomous driving refers to a system that handles all driving operations in designated areas or on designated routes, with no driver inside the vehicle. A “designated autonomous-operations operator,” which conducts remote monitoring, is responsible for ensuring safety and responding to accidents. Following the enforcement of the revised Road Traffic Act, operations became possible under a permit system.
The press conference presented data showing a substantial reduction in personal-injury accidents compared with taxis operated with drivers.
However, unresolved issues remain regarding who bears legal responsibility if an accident involving a driverless vehicle occurs.
The companies explained that the fare structure will basically follow “the fare system based on Japan’s current authorized taxi fares.”