Waymo plans driverless taxis in Tokyo in 2027
Waymo signed with Nihon Kotsu and GO to launch Japan's first fully driverless commercial taxi service in Tokyo in 2027.
The deal
On September 15, Waymo announced an agreement with Japanese taxi company Nihon Kotsu and taxi app GO. The goal is to launch Japan's first fully driverless commercial taxi service in Tokyo in 2027. It will start with a small fleet and grow to about 100 vehicles in key neighbourhoods, subject to regulatory approval.
Preparation
Waymo vehicles have been testing in Tokyo since 2025, supervised by trained Nihon Kotsu crew. Narrow residential streets and dense crowds were the focus. Once approved, rides will be available through both the GO and Waymo apps.
The US side
In the same period Waymo said it was launching in Las Vegas. Earlier in September it opened paid driverless service in Denver, San Diego and Tampa, reaching 14 US metros. Tokyo would be its first commercial step in Asia.