Waymo’s next robotaxi is a purpose-built Toyota bZ4X
Andrew J. Hawkins is transportation editor with 10+ years of experience who covers EVs, public transportation, and aviation. His work has appeared in The New York Daily News and City & State.
Waymo announced today that when it launches a robotaxi service in Tokyo in 2027, it will use Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles that are assembled in Japan. The news builds on the strategic partnership between Waymo and Toyota which was first announced in April 2025.
The robotaxis will be built entirely under one roof at Toyota’s Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Instead of building regular cars and modifying them later, the factory will install Waymo’s self-driving sensors and computers right on the assembly line as each car is made.
A team-up between the world’s largest automaker and the world’s leader in autonomous driving obviously has huge implications. Currently, Waymo uses two vehicle models on...
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