Toyota and Waymo are taking another major step toward expanding fully autonomous driving technology worldwide, with plans to begin testing a fleet of self-driving Toyota bZ4X electric SUVs in Japan in 2027. The partnership is also expected to expand to the United Kingdom and other markets where Waymo operates in the following years.
The announcement marks a significant development in the companies’ collaboration, which began with a preliminary agreement in April 2025. The two companies aim to combine Toyota’s manufacturing and vehicle development expertise with Waymo’s autonomous driving technology to accelerate the global deployment of Level 4 self-driving vehicles.
The initial Japanese operations will focus on testing and validating an autonomous Toyota bZ4X fleet, potentially laying the groundwork for Japan’s first fully autonomous ride-hailing service using mass-produced, domestically manufactured vehicles.
Toyota will manufacture the autonomous bZ4X vehicles at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture. Notably, the entire production process will take place at the same facility, from assembling the standard electric SUV to integrating Waymo’s autonomous driving hardware.
This approach is expected to streamline production and help both companies scale their autonomous drive vehicle operations more efficiently.
The partnership combines Toyota’s experience in building high-volume vehicles with Waymo’s fully autonomous Waymo Driver technology. The shared objective is to make safety-validated Level 4 autonomous vehicles available to more people across international markets.
Unlike conventional driver-assistance systems, Level 4 autonomous driving allows a vehicle to operate without human intervention within its designated operating conditions and areas.
Beyond autonomous driving technology, the specially equipped Toyota bZ4X will focus on passenger comfort and accessibility.
The electric SUV will feature generous rear-seat legroom and several convenience features designed to make entering and exiting the vehicle easier. These include automatic doors, a power liftgate and ambient lighting.
Such features are particularly relevant for autonomous ride-hailing services, where passengers may not have a driver available to assist them.
Toyota and Waymo also see the partnership as an opportunity to improve mobility for people who have difficulty getting around independently. By combining electric vehicles with fully autonomous technology, the companies hope to make transportation more accessible while reducing accidents caused by human error.
The collaboration will extend beyond autonomous ride-hailing services.
Toyota and Waymo plan to explore how autonomous driving technology could eventually benefit personally owned Toyota vehicles. Working alongside Woven by Toyota, the companies will also investigate additional ways to improve road safety by using insights from Waymo’s real-world operations, data-driven intelligence and autonomous driving systems.
Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov highlighted the shared commitment to reducing traffic accidents and expanding access to autonomous transportation.
According to Dolgov, Waymo has demonstrated that its technology can be up to 20 times safer than human drivers in terms of serious crash injuries in the areas where it operates. He also emphasized Toyota’s reputation for safety, reliability and manufacturing quality as key reasons for choosing the Japanese automaker as a partner.
Toyota executive vice president Hiroki Nakajima welcomed the collaboration, explaining that safety technology has the greatest impact when it can reach as many people as possible.
He also stressed that achieving the goal of zero traffic accidents will require cooperation between automakers, technology companies and other partners.
