Toyota to build Waymo self-driving taxis for Japan and UK

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 21:08 · Archive

Toyota will manufacture electric SUVs equipped with Waymo's self-driving technology for deployment in Japan, the UK and other countries.

Toyota and Waymo have announced a partnership to build bZ4X electric SUVs equipped with Waymo's self-driving hardware and software. A validation fleet is expected to hit Japanese roads in 2027, with vehicles also being sent to the UK and other countries, though timings remain unconfirmed. Neither company has specified when the vehicles will enter revenue service.

Production will take place at Toyota's Takaoka factory in Toyota City, where Waymo's suite of cameras, radars and lidar will be fitted alongside manual production. The bZ4Xs will feature automatic doors, an electric tailgate and ambient lighting. The companies stated they will continue exploring autonomous driving technology for privately-owned Toyotas.

Waymo's co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov claimed the company's vehicles are '20 times safer than human drivers when it comes to serious crash injuries' and said Toyota was chosen 'because of our respect for the legendary safety, reliability, and quality of their vehicles'. Toyota's chief technology officer Hiroki Nakajima said: 'No single company can achieve the goal of zero traffic accidents alone, but with partners like Waymo, we will get there one step at a time.'

Waymo currently operates in 15 American cities from San Francisco and Los Angeles to Tampa and Miami. The service is planned to expand to New York City and international cities including Toronto, London, Tokyo and Madrid over the next year or two.

Toyota to build Waymo self-driving taxis for Japan and UK — Image: The West Australian

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How it is being reported

Toyota to build Waymo self-driving taxis for Japan, UK and beyondA trip to London or Tokyo could soon include a ride in an autonomous Toyota bZ4X SUV driven by Waymo's self-driving tech.The West Australian · 2 Nov, 20:32
Toyota to build Waymo self-driving taxis for Japan, UK and beyondA trip to London or Tokyo could soon include a ride in an autonomous Toyota bZ4X SUV driven by Waymo's self-driving tech.Perth Now · 2 Nov, 20:32

In this story: Toyota · Waymo · Japan · UK · Dmitri Dolgov · Hiroki Nakajima

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