Waymo is expanding its autonomous vehicle operations to Tokyo, marking its first international deployment on public roads. This initial phase is described as a data-gathering “road trip” to familiarize Waymo’s technology with the nuances of Japanese driving, including left-hand traffic and navigating dense urban environments.
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Approximately 25 Waymo vehicles will be deployed, with the first arriving in early 2025. These vehicles will be driven manually by trained autonomous specialists employed by Nihon Kotsu, a local taxi fleet operator and Waymo’s partner in this venture. The primary goal is to collect mapping data. While this move is seen as a potential precursor to a future robotaxi service in Tokyo, Waymo has stated it has no immediate plans to offer rides to the public.
“While we look forward to bringing the life-saving benefits of the Waymo Driver global, we have no plans to serve riders in Tokyo at this time,” said Waymo spokesperson Sandy Karp. “Rather, we’re bringing our technology to learn and understand how Waymo fits into the existing transportation landscape and learning how to best partner with local officials and communities.”
The partnership with GO, a popular Japanese taxi app, suggests Waymo may intend to integrate its autonomous vehicles into existing local mobility services, similar to its partnerships with Uber in Austin and Atlanta.
Waymo’s US robotaxi business continues to grow, with approximately 700 vehicles operating in cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and Phoenix. Plans are also in place to launch services in Atlanta (exclusively with Uber) and Miami (in 2026). Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai recently reported that Waymo provides 175,000 paid trips per week, totaling about a million miles.
Following the initial data collection phase in Tokyo, Waymo plans to transition to hands-free autonomous driving with a safety driver present. Whether this will ultimately lead to fully driverless operations remains undisclosed. The vehicles will operate within specific geofenced areas of Tokyo, including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō.
This international expansion signals Waymo’s confidence in its technology, particularly as other companies, such as General Motors with Cruise, are scaling back their robotaxi ambitions. While several companies have tested autonomous vehicles in Japan, the country has lagged behind China and the US in this area. Notably, major Japanese automakers like Toyota and Nissan are focusing their robotaxi deployments in China, partnering with local operators.
