TOKYO, October 30, 2026 — Toyota Motor Corporation and Waymo have announced the next stage of their collaboration on autonomous electric vehicles. The companies plan to begin initial operations to test and validate a fleet of specially equipped Toyota bZ4X electric SUVs in Japan in 2027, ahead of a planned expansion to the United Kingdom and other markets served by Waymo.
The announcement builds on a preliminary agreement announced in April 2025. Toyota and Waymo said their work is intended to support the introduction of a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Japan using vehicles manufactured domestically in high volumes. Initial testing and validation are scheduled for 2027; the companies did not announce a date for a commercial passenger service.
Toyota to build autonomous bZ4X vehicles in Japan
Toyota will manufacture the electric vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. According to the joint announcement, both the assembly of the base vehicle and the integration of Waymo’s autonomous-driving hardware will take place at the same manufacturing location.
The project combines Toyota’s vehicle engineering and manufacturing operations with Waymo’s autonomous-driving system. The companies describe their objective as expanding the availability of Level 4 autonomous vehicles that can operate without a human driver within their defined operating conditions.
Purpose-built electric SUV equipment
The Toyota bZ4X vehicles planned for Waymo’s service have been adapted for passenger transport. Toyota identified additional rear-seat legroom, automatic doors, a power-operated liftgate and ambient interior lighting as features intended to support passenger comfort and easier entry and exit.
The vehicles are battery-electric SUVs. Toyota’s announcement did not provide fleet-specific battery capacities, certified driving range, charging specifications or the number of robotaxis expected to enter the initial Japanese test programme.
United Kingdom deployment planned after Japan
Following the first phase in Japan, Toyota and Waymo plan to introduce the vehicles to the United Kingdom and other markets where Waymo operates over subsequent years. The companies did not identify individual UK service areas, launch dates or fleet quantities in the October 30 announcement.
Toyota said the collaboration is designed to help bring autonomous mobility to more passengers, including people who face difficulties using conventional transport services.
Further development with Woven by Toyota
Toyota and Waymo will also continue discussions about autonomous-driving technology for privately owned Toyota vehicles. Woven by Toyota will participate in exploring how operational information and technology from Waymo’s services could contribute to road-safety initiatives.
Those proposed activities include examining the relationship between vehicles and transport infrastructure, alongside future applications of autonomous-driving technology. No release date for a privately owned Toyota equipped with Waymo’s autonomous system was announced.
Image: Toyota’s official illustration of the Toyota bZ4X autonomous vehicle prepared for the Waymo collaboration, released October 30, 2026.
