Waymo to Expand in Tokyo, Partners with Nihon Kotsu and GO

Waymo’s autonomous vehicles will soon begin their first international road trial in Tokyo in early 2025, the company announced. Partnering with Tokyo’s largest taxi operator, Nihon Kotsu, and the ride-hailing service GO, Waymo will deploy its self-driving technology in Japan’s capital, marking its first expansion outside the United States.  

こんにちは(Konnichiwa) and hello, Japan! We're thrilled to announce that Waymo, in partnership with @Nihonkotsu_Taxi and @go_goesnext, will bring our autonomous vehicles to Tokyo for our first international road trip. Read more: https://t.co/6xnurQuiSP pic.twitter.com/jIsIa7h8Wj

— Waymo (@Waymo) December 17, 2024

The initiative will introduce Waymo’s all-electric Jaguar I-PACEs to Tokyo’s left-hand traffic system and densely populated urban environment. Nihon Kotsu will oversee the management and maintenance of the vehicles. 

Initially, human drivers from Nihon Kotsu will manually operate the cars to map critical districts, including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō.  

This expansion aligns with Waymo’s vision of integrating autonomous driving solutions by collaborating with government officials and local communities.  

Familiarity with AI

Waymo’s expansion, which it calls its road trip, aims to familiarise its AI-powered Driver system with Tokyo’s driving culture while adhering to the company’s safety framework. 

“We are engaging with Japanese policymakers, regulators, and safety officials to ensure responsible implementation of our technology on Tokyo’s streets,” said the company in its official announcement.  

Japan has prioritised innovation in transportation, with national and metropolitan governments fostering technologies that enhance safety and mobility. 

Waymo also described this trip as an opportunity to accelerate the development of its Driver system by testing its generalisation to new driving conditions. “Our rigorous testing approach helps us gain experience that refines our technology, ensuring it can adapt seamlessly to different environments.” 

Pertaining to this, Dmitri Dolgov, co-CEO at Waymo, took to X to talk about the riding service the company began in Austin.

We recently began serving riders in Austin, and it’s great to see the safety benefits of the @Waymo Driver already playing out for both our riders and other road users. pic.twitter.com/Nr7Qaw0yym

— Dmitri Dolgov (@dmitri_dolgov) December 16, 2024

Waymo has previously tested its Driver in varied conditions across several US cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Phoenix.

According to the company, data collected during these drives informs its technology’s design and performance, improving its capabilities over time.  

Waymo also plans to update Tokyo residents and stakeholders as the road trip progresses, ensuring transparency throughout the trial period.