Alphabet’s Waymo said it aims to launch Japan’s first fully autonomous commercial taxi service in Tokyo in 2027 with GO, a Japan-based taxi app operator, and Nihon Kotsu, a Tokyo taxi company.

The launch is subject to regulatory approvals and validation of Waymo’s technology and operating model.

The partners said they plan to start with a small fleet and later expand to about 100 vehicles across Tokyo neighborhoods.

Riders would be able to book trips through the GO and Waymo apps.

Waymo began collecting data in Tokyo in 2025 using human-driven Jaguar I-PACE vehicles.

That marked its first operations on public roads outside the US. If approved, Tokyo would become Waymo’s first commercial launch outside the US.

The companies said the service could help address Japan’s taxi driver shortage and broader population decline.

The plan also comes as Nissan, British startup Wayve, and Uber work on a separate robotaxi collaboration.

🔗 Source: Reuters

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