Toyota and Waymo set 2027 Japan tests for autonomous bZ4X fleet

By Amara Osei

What changes in 2027?

Toyota and Waymo will start 2027 operations to test an autonomous bZ4X fleet in Japan, building on their preliminary partnership agreement announced in April 2025. Deployment to the United Kingdom and other Waymo-serviced markets is planned for the years after 2027. Both companies describe this as the next phase of their collaboration.

It also names no fleet size, plant capacity, investment, jobs, launch date, validation standard or market approval schedule. “Initial operations” therefore describes a test program, not a production target.

Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov said:

“In areas where Waymo operates, we’ve demonstrated that we are up to 20x safer than human drivers when it comes to serious crash injuries.”

He said Toyota’s commitment to zero traffic accidents resonated with Waymo. The partnership should extend safety and convenience to more people, including Japan. He chose Toyota for its safety, reliability and quality. Waymo plans to scale Waymo Driver globally.

The 20x figure is Dolgov’s claim. The announcement gives no study period, sample size, exposure measure, serious-injury definition or independent validation. Nothing reports bZ4X test results or a Japan safety threshold. Together, the quoted commitments set goals for deployment, but the announcement provides no comparable operating data for the Japanese fleet or its planned bZ4X configuration.

Where will the vehicles be built?

The full process, from base-vehicle assembly to Waymo AV hardware integration, will occur under one roof at Toyota’s Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Toyota is the OEM. Waymo supplies the AV hardware and fully autonomous driving technology.

The companies call this Japan’s first fully autonomous ride-hailing service using high-volume, domestically manufactured vehicles. The announcement offers no output or service data against which to test either claim. They say the partnership will scale safety-validated Level 4 vehicles globally, pairing Toyota’s global manufacturing and vehicle development with Waymo’s fully autonomous technology and expertise. They also say broader access can reduce human-error crashes and offer mobility to people who cannot easily get around.

What will riders get?

The customized bZ4X will combine base-vehicle assembly with Waymo hardware and a cabin package designed for easier entry, exit and everyday use for all riders.

• Generous rear legroom
• Automatic doors
• A power liftgate
• Ambient lighting

Toyota and Waymo say the additions are designed to improve comfort and accessibility. They present seamless entry and exit as central benefits for riders.

What sits beyond the test fleet?

Toyota and Waymo will continue exploring autonomous driving technology for personally owned Toyota vehicles. Alongside Woven by Toyota, they will examine insights from Waymo’s real-world operations, data-driven intelligence and vehicle technology that could improve safety for other road users. Toyota also wants to explore links between vehicles and traffic infrastructure.

Toyota board member and executive vice president Hiroki Nakajima thanked Waymo and described it as a pioneer of fully autonomous driving. He said:

“Safety technology makes the biggest difference when it reaches as many people as possible. This collaboration will help scale that technology and bring it to customers in Japan and beyond through Waymo’s ride-hailing service.”

He said Toyota will in parallel explore how vehicle integration with traffic infrastructure can make roads safer. He also said no single company can achieve zero traffic accidents alone. Nakajima described technology reach as the main measure of success. No production milestone defines that reach.

The infrastructure work and personal-vehicle exploration remain exploratory. No model year, pilot, timetable or output target is specified.

What should readers watch?

Until the companies supply those data, the program remains a dated manufacturing and testing intention, not evidence of deployment at scale. Three checkpoints matter: the exact 2027 operating date, the fleet-size and Takaoka capacity milestone, and any policy decisions affecting the UK and other planned markets.