Japan's 1st driverless taxi service eyed in Tokyo in 2027

Alphabet-backed autonomous driving firm Waymo has announced plans to introduce a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Tokyo by 2027 in partnership with Japanese taxi operator Nihon Kotsu and mobility platform GO. The companies aim to prepare for the commercial launch of unmanned rides, allowing passengers to hail both traditional taxis and Waymo's autonomous vehicles through the GO app, with the Waymo app also offering the service.

Waymo began exploring the Tokyo market with GO and Nihon Kotsu in 2025, with its vehicles conducting supervised autonomous driving on the city's streets. The initial service will commence with a small fleet before expanding to approximately 100 vehicles across key Tokyo neighborhoods. The companies are collaborating with government ministries to secure the necessary permits and licenses for commercial operations.

As of now, Waymo already offers over 500,000 autonomous trips weekly across 15 cities, and the Tokyo launch represents the next phase of its international expansion. The move comes as Japan seeks to enhance autonomous mobility in response to an aging population and anticipated driver shortages. Tokyo has already designated specific areas to facilitate the early implementation of Level 4 autonomous-driving services, but Waymo's robotaxi launch will still necessitate the requisite national and local approvals.