Waymo and Toyota Partner to Deploy Autonomous bZ4X Robotaxis in Japan and the UK Starting in 2027

Waymo and Toyota announced a deepened partnership on October 30 to manufacture and deploy autonomous Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles as robotaxis, with testing set to begin in Japan in 2027 and expansion planned for the United Kingdom.

Toyota will build the base bZ4X electric SUVs at its Takaoka plant in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Waymo's autonomous hardware will be integrated at the same facility, allowing for a streamlined manufacturing process under one roof. The robotaxi variant of the bZ4X has been customized for passenger comfort, featuring increased rear legroom, automatic doors, a power liftgate, and ambient interior lighting.

The partnership deepens a preliminary agreement the two companies signed in April 2025. It combines Toyota's reputation for vehicle reliability and manufacturing scale with Waymo's established autonomous driving software, known as the Waymo Driver.

"This collaboration brings together two leaders in their respective fields," Waymo said in a blog post announcing the deal.

The collaboration also involves Woven by Toyota, the automaker's software division, which will explore how real-world operational data from the robotaxi fleet can be used to improve road safety and infrastructure integration.

Beyond the immediate robotaxi deployment, both companies indicated interest in eventually integrating Waymo's autonomous technology into personally owned Toyota vehicles.

The announcement comes as the broader autonomous vehicle industry faces questions about the pace of commercialization. DoorDash reported that third-party AI agents have generated only several hundred orders to date, a fraction of its 3 million daily deliveries, illustrating the gap between the promise of autonomous systems and their current real-world impact.

Waymo currently operates robotaxi services in several US cities, including San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.