Waymo is set to begin testing autonomous Toyota bZ4X vehicles in Japan next year, marking a major milestone in a broader, evolving partnership between the autonomous driving leader and the Japanese automotive giant. The collaboration is designed to supply electric vehicles specifically outfitted for robotaxi operations across international markets, including the United Kingdom.
Under the terms of the formal partnership agreement announced on Friday, Toyota will handle the manufacturing of the 2027 bZ4X vehicles and integrate Waymo’s proprietary self-driving hardware and software directly at its Takaoka factory in Japan. Notably, this specific electric vehicle model is marketed under the name "BZ" within the North American market.
The upcoming deployment of autonomous bZ4X vehicles will kick off with testing phases in Japan, where Waymo ultimately intends to establish and operate a commercial robotaxi service. However, the strategic vision extends beyond domestic Japanese roads. The companies intend to deploy these vehicles in other international right-hand driving countries, most notably the United Kingdom. Waymo has already spent months testing its autonomous Jaguar I-Pace fleet on the streets of London and plans to launch a commercial robotaxi service there as soon as it secures the necessary regulatory permits from local authorities.
This latest announcement arrives approximately 18 months after Toyota and Waymo initially signed a preliminary agreement in April 2025. That early pact was designed to explore the potential joint development and deployment of an autonomous vehicle platform. At the time, the preliminary agreement fell firmly into the exploratory "let’s see what happens" category, utilizing language that was sufficiently vague to leave ample room for various strategic interpretations.
For the time being, the newly formalized partnership closely resembles a more conventional automotive supplier agreement. It provides Waymo with a reliable manufacturing pathway to fulfill specific regional fleet needs while simultaneously integrating a brand-new vehicle model into its expanding global robotaxi portfolio.
Despite the immediate focus on ride-hailing fleets, the partnership holds significant potential to stretch far beyond robotaxis. Executives from both companies confirmed that they will continue to evaluate opportunities to bring Waymo’s advanced autonomous driving technology directly to personally owned Toyota vehicles in the future.
In addition to hardware and vehicle supply agreements, Toyota and Waymo have outlined plans to explore other collaborative initiatives. These future projects aim to leverage real-world data and operational insights gathered from Waymo’s extensive public robotaxi operations to enhance overall safety for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and human drivers.
While the exact mechanics of these safety initiatives remain under wraps, Hiroki Nakajima, executive vice president and board member at Toyota, offered some illuminating clues during the announcement.
"This collaboration will help scale that technology and bring it to customers in Japan and beyond through Waymo’s ride-hailing service, and in parallel, Toyota will continue to explore how integrating vehicles with traffic infrastructure can make those roads safer still," Nakajima stated.
The partnership signals a deepening alignment between traditional automotive manufacturing prowess and cutting-edge software development. As Waymo prepares to transition its fleet operations overseas and adapt to right-hand drive environments, securing a manufacturing partner of Toyota’s scale provides the operational backbone required for international expansion. At the same time, Toyota gains direct access to real-world autonomous driving insights, positioning both companies to navigate the shifting landscape of global urban mobility, intelligent infrastructure, and next-generation vehicle safety.
