Imagine walking down the bustling streets of Shinjuku or Shibuya, in the heart of Tokyo, and seeing a sleek Jaguar I-PACE zoom past you. Nothing strange so far, except that the car is completely driverless. Welcome to the near future of the Japanese capital, where thanks to Waymo, the world leader in autonomous driving, robotaxis will soon become a reality.
The company controlled by Alphabet has in fact chosen Tokyo as the first international test bed for its driverless vehicles: a fascinating and ambitious bet that could change the way we move around the city forever. Let's see all the details.
Waymo Chooses Tokyo for International Debut
Waymo, the autonomous vehicle division of Alphabet (Google's parent company), announced on Monday that will begin testing its driverless cars in Tokyo in early 2025. This is the company's first step towards international expansion.
While Waymo has not yet committed to launching a commercial service in Tokyo, the robotaxi developer will partner with Japan's largest taxi operator, Nihon kotsu, and with the taxi app GO to begin testing its Jaguar I-PACE vehicles on the streets of Tokyo.
Mapping the City with the Help of Nihon Kotsu
To start, Nihon Kotsu drivers will manually drive Waymo vehicles to map key areas of the Japanese capital, including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa e Koto. The data collected during these driver-driven road tests will be used to train the company's artificial intelligence systems.
In the meantime, Waymo will “build” a little piece of the Land of the Rising Sun in the United States, testing its robotaxis on a closed course built to simulate driving conditions in Japan.
A long-term partnership
This is the first phase of the partnerships, which will last several quarters, Waymo told CNBC, adding that it plans to stay in Japan for an extended period. “Our upcoming trip to Tokyo provides us with the opportunity to work alongside local partners, government officials and community groups to understand the new landscape,” the company said in a statement.
We will learn how Waymo can serve Tokyo residents and become an integral part of the city’s transportation ecosystem.
Nihon Kotsu also oversees the operation and maintenance of Waymo vehicles in Japan. The entry into Japan marks Waymo's first step into a left-hand drive market.
Tokyo focuses on autonomous driving
Both the Japanese national government and the Tokyo metropolitan government see autonomous driving technology as a potential boon to the aging population of the country, according to a study by the World Economic Forum.
That’s why Tokyo has designated certain areas as “test zones” for self-driving cars, in hopes of speeding up the arrival of safe driverless transportation systems.
Waymo, by the way, is not the only “pioneer”. Several developers are working on autonomous vehicles in Japan, including the local startup Tier IV e PRO, a robotics company that is testing delivery vehicles and buses in Tokyo. Also Monet Technologies, of which Toyota is partly owner, announced earlier this year plans to test a self-driving taxi service in Tokyo's Odaiba district.
The autonomous transportation landscape is more dynamic than ever
Waymo's announcement of expansion into Japan comes a week after General Motors announced his abandonment of its robotaxi division Cruise. Cruise's outside investor Honda told CNBC it aimed to launch a driverless ride-hail service in Japan by early 2026, but that it would reevaluate those plans and make changes if necessary.
Before GM pulled out of robo-taxi operations, Cruise had been one of Waymo’s main domestic competitors. Now, with its expansion into Tokyo, Waymo is well-positioned to capture the future of autonomous mobility, not just in the U.S. but globally.
Who knows, maybe one day we will see Waymo robotaxis speeding along the foot of the majestic Mount Fuji, offering a unique travel experience between tradition and innovation. Japan seems ready to embrace this technological revolution. And you, would you hop on a driverless taxi to explore the vibrant Japanese capital?
