Waymo is adding the Toyota bZ4X to its robotaxi lineup. Toyota will build a custom version of the electric SUV with the Waymo Driver integrated right on the line in Japan, and a test fleet will start operating there in 2027.
📌 The Core Development
It’s the first actual vehicle to come out of the partnership the two companies signed last year. And it gives Waymo a Japanese-built car for its Tokyo launch, with the UK and other markets to follow.
When Waymo and Toyota first announced their deal in April 2025 , it was a preliminary agreement to “explore” working together on autonomous driving, including in personally owned vehicles. Lots of intent, no product.
🔍 Background & Sector Context
Now there’s a product. According to Waymo’s announcement , Toyota will produce the vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, and Waymo’s self-driving hardware will be installed and integrated at that same site instead of being retrofitted somewhere else.
The robotaxi bZ4X gets a few rider-focused changes: extra rear legroom, automatic doors, a power liftgate, and ambient lighting. Waymo didn’t share sensor specs, unit volumes, or what each vehicle costs.
📊 Industry & Real-World Impact
Operations in 2027 are about testing and validating the autonomous bZ4X fleet in Japan. The UK and “other Waymo markets” come in later years, with no dates attached.
Benchmark Telemetry & EV Fuel Savings
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🔮 Strategic Outlook & What Lies Ahead
The two companies also say they’ll keep working on autonomous tech for Toyota’s personal vehicles, plus safety projects with Woven by Toyota, the automaker’s software arm.
Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov said that “Toyota’s commitment to zero traffic accidents resonates deeply with us at Waymo.”
