Waymo partners to launch Tokyo’s first autonomous robotaxi service by 2027

Waymo is taking its driverless cars to Tokyo, and it’s bringing local partners along for the ride. The Alphabet subsidiary announced a partnership with Japanese ride-hailing platform GO Inc. and major taxi operator Nihon Kotsu to launch the country’s first fully autonomous commercial robotaxi service, targeting initial trips in 2027. The plan calls for a small initial fleet of Jaguar I-PACE electric vehicles running Waymo’s fifth-generation Driver technology, scaling up to roughly 100 vehicles across key Tokyo neighborhoods. No safety drivers. No human behind the wheel. Just passengers and algorithms navigating one of the world’s most complex urban driving environments. How the partnership works Each partner brings a distinct piece to the puzzle. Waymo contributes its autonomous driving stack, the same technology already ferrying passengers around parts of San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. GO handles app integration and dispatch, giving Waymo instant access to an established user base in Japan’s ride-hailing market. Nihon Kotsu, one of Tokyo’s largest and oldest taxi companies, manages operational logistics on the ground. Riders will be able to hail a driverless Jaguar throu...