Waymo has announced that it will use Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles assembled in Japan for a robotaxi service in Tokyo, a significant expansion of the strategic partnership between the two companies that was first unveiled in April 2025.
Toyota will build the Waymo-equipped bZ4X electric SUVs directly on its factory line at the company's Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, ahead of planned robotaxi rollouts in Tokyo and the United Kingdom.
Instead of producing conventional vehicles and converting them later, the plant will install Waymo's self-driving sensors and computers as each car is assembled, with the robotaxis built entirely under one roof.
The arrangement brings together the world's largest automaker and the world's leading autonomous driving company. Waymo's current fleet consists of two vehicle models, the Jaguar I-Pace and the Ojai, which is based on the Zeekr RT, while a third model derived from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is expected to enter service soon.
By adding the bZ4X, Waymo is seeking to demonstrate that its autonomous driving technology can be adapted to a wide range of vehicle types. The company has long positioned itself as a software and systems supplier, marketing its technology as the "Waymo Driver," rather than as an automaker in its own right.
The deal also signals a change in how Waymo obtains and prepares the cars in its fleet. Until now, the company bought finished vehicles from factories, shipped them to a separate facility, and retrofitted them with sensors, computers and additional wiring.
Integrating the sensor suite and computing hardware on Toyota's own assembly line could eliminate redundant labor, custom brackets and secondary shipping, and potentially reduce costs for Waymo.
Waymo said initial testing and validation in Japan will begin next year. After that, the new vehicles are set to be deployed in the United Kingdom and other international markets for robotaxi operations.
The company also said it is continuing to explore ways of integrating its technology into Toyota vehicles designed for personally owned autonomous driving.
In addition, Waymo is working with Woven by Toyota, the automaker's software and mobility spinout, to use Waymo's operational and safety telemetry to improve road safety across general vehicle fleets and traffic infrastructure.
