Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company owned by Alphabet, announced on Monday that it will begin testing its self-driving cars in Tokyo in early 2025, marking the company’s first international expansion. This move is a significant step for Waymo, which has primarily focused on the U.S. market up to now. Although Waymo has not yet committed to launching commercial services in Tokyo, the company will collaborate with Japan’s largest taxi operator, Nihon Kotsu, and the taxi app GO to begin testing its Jaguar I-PACE vehicles on the streets of the Japanese capital.
Initially, drivers from Nihon Kotsu will manually operate the Waymo vehicles to map key areas in Tokyo, including neighborhoods like Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō. These manned test drives will provide valuable data to help train Waymo’s AI systems. In addition, the company will conduct further testing on a closed course in the U.S. designed to simulate Japanese driving conditions. This testing phase is expected to last for several quarters, with Waymo indicating its plans to remain in Japan for an extended period.
The company stated that its expansion into Tokyo provides an opportunity to collaborate with local partners, government officials, and community groups to better understand the transportation needs of the city. “We’ll learn how Waymo can serve Tokyo’s residents and become a beneficial part of the city’s transportation ecosystem,” the company said in a statement. Nihon Kotsu will manage and service the Waymo vehicles in Japan as part of the partnership.
Waymo has been actively expanding its operations across the U.S. in 2024. Earlier this month, the company announced plans to begin testing in Miami in 2025, and in November, it made its driverless ride-hailing service available across Los Angeles. In September, Waymo also announced plans to expand into Austin and Atlanta in partnership with Uber. Tokyo will be the first international market for Waymo and its move into Japan marks the company’s entry into a left-hand traffic market.
Japan views autonomous vehicle technology as a potential solution to address the needs of its aging population. Both the Japanese national government and the Tokyo Metropolitan government have designated certain areas as “test zones” to accelerate the development of self-driving cars. Several other companies, including local startups and established robotics firms, are also working on autonomous vehicles in Japan.
Waymo’s expansion into Japan comes shortly after General Motors’ announcement that it was shutting down its Cruise robotaxi division, signaling the competitive nature of the autonomous vehicle market.
