Waymo begins testing in Tokyo, its first international destination

alphabetCompany-owned Waymo said Monday that it will begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Tokyo in early 2025, marking the company’s first step toward international expansion.

Waymo has not yet committed to launching commercial service in Tokyo, but the robotaxi developer will work with Japan’s largest taxi company Nihon Kotsu and taxi app GO to begin testing its Jaguar I-PACE vehicles on Tokyo streets start.

Initially, Nihon Kotsu drivers will manually operate the Waymo vehicles to cover key areas of the Japanese capital, including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa and Kōtō.

Data from the manned test drives will help train the company’s AI systems. Waymo will also test its robotaxis on a closed route in the US designed to mimic driving conditions in Japan.

This is the first phase of the partnerships, which will last several quarters, Waymo told CNBC, adding that it expects to remain in Japan for an extended period of time.

“Our upcoming road trip to Tokyo gives us the chance to work with local partners, government officials and community groups to understand the new landscape,” Waymo said in a statement. “We will learn how Waymo can serve Tokyo residents and become a useful part of the city’s transportation ecosystem.”

Nihon Kotsu will oversee the management and maintenance of Waymo vehicles in Japan, the companies said.

Waymo announced a series of expansions in the US in 2024. The company announced this earlier this month New tests in Miami In 2025, driverless ride-hail service was introduced available throughout Los Angeles Planned expansions to Austin and Atlanta were announced in November and September Partnership with Uber.

The move into Japan is the company’s first step into a left-hand traffic market.

Both the Japanese national government and the Tokyo metropolitan government see driverless technology as a potential boon for the country’s aging population, according to a study World Economic Forum.

Tokyo has designated certain areas as “test zones” for self-driving cars, hoping to speed up the rollout of safe driverless transportation systems there.

In Japan, several developers are working on autonomous vehicles, including local startup Tier IV and ZMP, a robotics company testing delivery vehicles and buses in Tokyo. Monet Technologies, which is partially owned by Toyotaannounced plans to test Earlier this year, a self-driving taxi service in Tokyo’s Odaiba district.

Waymo’s announcement of its expansion into Japan came a week later General Motors announced that it was so Abandonment of the cruise robotaxi division. Honda, an outside investor in Cruise, told CNBC that it aims to launch a driverless ride-hail service in Japan in early 2026, but will reconsider those plans and make adjustments as necessary.

Before GM’s withdrawal from robotaxis, Cruise had been one of Waymo’s main domestic competitors.

REGARD: GM pulls plug on robotaxi plan