Waymo to start Tokyo robotaxi service next year in Asia push
Autonomous driving was long seen as a pipe dream in Japan, where the streets are narrow and crowded, and regulation is notoriously strict.
Alphabet’s Waymo is set to launch its robotaxis in Japan next year, as the U.S. market leader expands its global presence. Waymo intends to partner with Japanese taxi companies Go and Nihon Kotsu to provide a fully autonomous service in Tokyo starting in 2027. The companies anticipate beginning with a small fleet and gradually expanding to 100 vehicles.
Shares of Go, which operates Japan's top taxi-booking app, surged up to 9.7% on Tuesday, with the stock having increased by over 40% since its IPO in June. Waymo has been aggressively expanding in the U.S. and is now turning its attention to international markets, including London. The company has been testing in Tokyo for the past year, making it the first autonomous service on Japanese public roads.
Waymo claims that the robotaxis will complement Tokyo's renowned transportation network while addressing the country's aging population and potential labor shortages. The rides will be accessible through the Go and Waymo apps. Japan, known for its narrow and crowded streets and strict regulations, has been hesitant to embrace autonomous driving.
However, recent efforts have been made to overcome these challenges. Earlier this year, Nuro, a U.S. self-driving startup, began testing in Tokyo as its first location abroad after partnering with Uber Technologies and Lucid Group. Backed by Nvidia and Toyota, Nuro aims to compete with Waymo and Amazon's Zoox. Waymo still needs to obtain the required permits and licenses for its Japanese service, as the country's regulations currently mandate a human driver in the vehicle, regardless of its level of autonomy.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
