Toyota to Launch 'bZ4X' Robotaxi Service in 2027 with Waymo Partnership, a First for Japan

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Toyota Motor Corporation announced on the 30th that it will begin full-scale operations of an unmanned autonomous taxi based on its battery electric vehicle 'bZ4X' in 2027, in collaboration with U.S. self-driving technology company Waymo. This project is a core initiative based on the strategic partnership signed by both companies in April 2025 and is drawing significant attention in the global mobility market.

This unmanned taxi service will be Japan's first fully autonomous commercial service utilizing mass-produced vehicles manufactured domestically within Japan. The 'bZ4X' robotaxi, equipped with Waymo's advanced autonomous driving hardware, undergoes all manufacturing processes—from basic vehicle assembly to the installation of dedicated hardware—exclusively at Toyota's Takaoka plant located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

Through this collaboration, the two companies plan to build a safer and more efficient unmanned mobility transportation network in urban driving environments within Japan. In particular, they aim to maximize driving safety and realize a society with zero traffic accidents by combining Waymo's unique fully autonomous driving system, 'Waymo Driver' technology, with Toyota's superior vehicle manufacturing reliability.

Toyota and Waymo plan to use the successful establishment of the service in the Japanese market as a stepping stone to gradually expand their cooperation into major global mobility markets, leading the standard for next-generation autonomous driving ecosystems. This joint move by the two companies is expected to have significant repercussions across the entire unmanned driving market.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original