Toyota to build Waymo robotaxis at Takaoka plant, Japan fleet from 2027

· Automotive & EV · Japan · United States

Toyota and Waymo are expanding their partnership: Toyota will build a custom version of the electric bZ4X with the Waymo Driver integrated on the production line at its Takaoka plant in Japan, and a test fleet is to begin operating in Japan in 2027. It is the first actual vehicle to come out of the partnership the two companies signed last year. By building the robotaxis itself, Toyota gains a role in driverless ride-hailing without developing its own full autonomy stack, while Waymo adds a second vehicle platform and a new market beyond the US. The companies said they will begin scaling the fleet of Toyota bZ4X autonomous vehicles in Japan in 2027.

Why it matters：It shows automakers supplying hardware to autonomy leaders rather than building full self-driving stacks alone, a model that could reshape how robotaxi fleets scale globally.

Key points

  • Toyota will integrate the Waymo Driver on the bZ4X production line at its Takaoka plant.
  • A test fleet is slated to start operating in Japan in 2027.
  • The deal is the first vehicle to emerge from the partnership signed last year.

Sources (original reporting)

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