Toyota and Waymo will start testing autonomous bZ4X models in 2027.
Image: Toyota
Japanese automaker Toyota and U.S. autonomous driving specialist Waymo have announced the next phase of their collaboration in autonomous driving. The companies plan to begin testing and validating a fleet of autonomous Toyota bZ4X vehicles in Japan in 2027. In subsequent years, the deployment of these electric SUVs is also planned in the UK and other markets where Waymo is already active — Germany is expected to join soon as well.
The partnership aims to pave the way for Japan’s first fully autonomous ride-hailing service using mass-produced vehicles manufactured in Japan. Toyota will handle the production of these electric vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. There, both the base vehicles are assembled and the Waymo hardware for autonomous driving is integrated.
According to a statement, Toyota and Waymo intend to accelerate the global deployment of safety-validated Level 4 autonomous vehicles through this collaboration. They say this is achieved by combining Toyota’s expertise in vehicle development and production with Waymo’s technology for fully autonomous driving. Common goals include reducing accidents caused by human error and providing greater mobility for people with limited mobility.
The specially equipped Toyota bZ4X is designed to offer not only safety but also high comfort and improved accessibility. The passengers in the back of this battery-powered SUV are expected to have ample space at their disposal. Automatic doors, an electric rear hatch, and ambient lighting are intended to make getting in and out easier.
In addition, Toyota and Waymo aim to explore how autonomous driving technologies can be integrated into privately owned Toyota vehicles in the future. Together with Woven by Toyota, the companies are examining further initiatives to reduce traffic safety incidents. This includes investigating how insights from real-world Waymo operations, data-driven analyses, and technologies to enhance the safety of other road users can contribute.
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Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric cars, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions on ecomento.de. Learn more.
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