Waymo picks Tokyo in first international expansion

Waymo has announced it will start testing its robotaxis in the Japanese capital of Tokyo in early 2025.

The Alphabet-owned self-driving service has partnered with Tokyo’s largest taxi operator, Nihon Katsu, and taxi-hailing app GO for its first international expansion. It is also the first location where Waymo cars will be tested in left-hand traffic.

The city’s first Waymo robotaxi fleet will consist of all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. The cars will initially be operated by human drivers manually to map key areas of the Japanese capital, including Minato, Shinjuku, Shubuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō.

It is not clear when the commercial service open to all passengers will start, but the company said in a statement that robotaxis will first learn to adapt to “nuances associated with operating in one of the world’s most densely populated urban environments.”

Waymo said it will work with local partners, government officials, and community groups to understand the new landscape. “We’ll learn how Waymo can serve Tokyo’s residents and become a beneficial part of the city’s transportation ecosystem.”

The company said it would take a “rigorous” approach to ensure that the technology is safe to use. It has recently faced issues in the US, including incidents in San Francisco, where robotaxi pile-ups caused traffic chaos on at least two occasions.

The rollout of the service appears to be much smoother in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin, three other US cities where it is available.

Earlier this month, Waymo announced it was expanding to Miami as well, where it will start testing its cars early in 2025, with commercial service expected in 2026.