Toyota to Build Waymo Robotaxis: bZ4X Fleet Testing in Japan from 2027

What happened

Vehicle assembly and self-driving hardware integration will happen under one roof: from building the bZ4X base vehicle to installing Waymo's hardware, everything takes place at the Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture; the customized bZ4X adds automatic doors, a power liftgate, ambient lighting and generous rear legroom.

The deal builds on a preliminary agreement the two companies signed in April 2025, which only committed them to explore autonomous-vehicle platform development and deployment, naming no vehicle or timeline; the new announcement turns that exploration pact into a supply plan with a vehicle, a factory and a schedule, which Toyota called a major milestone for Japan's first fully autonomous ride-hailing service using high-volume, domestically manufactured vehicles.

Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov said the rollout will start with the right-hand-drive markets of Japan and the UK, with no other countries or timelines to share; Toyota board member and executive vice president Hiroki Nakajima said initial operations will involve a small number of vehicles. The companies did not disclose vehicle numbers or financial terms, and the start of commercial service was not announced.

Key facts

1. Announcement: On October 30, 2026, Toyota and Waymo announced the next phase of their autonomous-driving collaboration
2. Vehicle and factory: The 2027 bZ4X (badged bZ in North America), built by Toyota at its Takaoka plant with Waymo's self-driving hardware integrated
3. Schedule: Testing and validation operations in Japan from 2027, with deployment to the UK and other Waymo-serviced markets planned for the following years
4. Autonomy level: The vehicles carry Waymo's Level 4 self-driving system, which handles all driving tasks within a defined operating area with no human driver needed
5. Not disclosed: Vehicle numbers, financial terms and the start of commercial service were not disclosed; initial operations will involve a small number of vehicles
6. UK progress: Waymo has been testing Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in London for months and plans to launch a robotaxi service there once it receives the necessary permits