Waymo plans Tokyo robotaxi service in 2027 with GO, Nihon Kotsu

Alphabet-backed autonomous driving division Waymo has announced plans to launch a fully autonomous commercial ride-hailing service in Tokyo in 2027. The expansion is being executed in partnership with leading Japanese taxi operator Nihon Kotsu and mobility app platform GO. Under the agreement, passengers will be able to book autonomous Waymo rides via both the GO application and the Waymo app, alongside conventional taxi options. The commercial deployment will begin with a small test fleet before scaling up to approximately 100 autonomous vehicles operating across key Tokyo neighborhoods, pending regulatory approvals and safety validation. Waymo has been conducting supervised testing in Tokyo since 2025 to adapt its driving systems to left-hand traffic, dense urban conditions, and narrow streets. This move marks a major milestone in Waymo's international expansion strategy. The company currently facilitates over 500,000 autonomous trips weekly across 15 cities, positioning it to address Japan's severe driver shortages stemming from an aging demographic.