The deal
On October 30, Toyota and Waymo announced that self-driving robotaxis based on the Toyota bZ4X electric car will start testing in Japan in 2027. The UK and other Waymo markets follow in the years after. It builds on a first agreement the two signed in April 2025.
Why Japan and the UK first? Both drive on the left, so the cars need right-hand drive. Waymo has already been testing in London since spring 2026, and a driverless service there still needs regulatory approval.
Built at scale, in one place
This is the clever part. Toyota builds the car at its Takaoka plant, and Waymo's self-driving hardware is integrated on the same production line. That's how you go from a handful of test cars to real volume.
It's designed for riders too: extra rear legroom, automatic doors and a power liftgate. Toyota says this paves the way for Japan's first driverless ride-hailing service built on mass-produced, made-in-Japan cars.
The part I'm watching
The two companies will also explore self-driving technology for cars people actually own. Nothing concrete is announced there yet.
What we still don't know: how many cars, which cities, and exact dates. Toyota says it starts with a small fleet.
What it means for your money
- Robotaxis are moving from pilots to factories. Building the self-driving hardware in on the assembly line is what makes scale possible.
- Partnerships are the model. An AI driver from one company, a mass-produced car from another.
- Timelines are early. Testing starts in 2027, so this is a story to follow, step by step.
Not financial advice.
Sources
How we checked
Every claim above is backed by at least two of the sources listed, using the original report or the company's own statement where there is one. If we could only find something in one place, it didn't make the cut.
This is news and information only, not financial, legal or security advice. Read our disclosures.
Partnerships
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