Waymo, the self-driving car company owned by Alphabet, is taking its autonomous taxi service to Tokyo, Japan. Starting April 14, the company will begin testing its driverless taxis on the city’s roads. This marks Waymo’s first test outside the US. Waymo will use 25 electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles for the test. Initially, a human driver will be behind the wheel to monitor the vehicle’s performance. The test will cover several districts in Tokyo, including Chiyoda, Minato, and Shinjuku. This move is part of a partnership with Nihon Kotsu, Tokyo’s largest taxi company, and GO, a ride-hailing app provider.
The Jaguar I-PACE vehicles are equipped with advanced technology, including five LiDAR sensors, 29 cameras, and four radar systems that can detect objects up to 300 meters away. These features will help Waymo gather data on Tokyo’s roads, which are generally narrower than those in the US. The company plans to create detailed 3D maps of the area and understand local driving habits to improve its autonomous driving system.
Waymo has been testing its self-driving cars for 15 years and has accumulated over 25.3 million miles of driving experience in the US. The company has already launched its commercial service in several US cities, including Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, with 100,000 rides per week in October 2024. By March 2025, the service expanded to Silicon Valley and Austin, increasing the number of weekly rides to 200,000.
Key Partnerships
Waymo’s partnership with Nihon Kotsu and GO is crucial to its testing in Tokyo. Nihon Kotsu will provide human drivers to monitor the vehicles during the initial testing phase. GO, the ride-hailing app provider, will likely play a role in integrating Waymo’s autonomous taxis into its service.
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