Waymo plans to begin testing its robotaxis in Tokyo around the beginning of 2025. These robotaxis will be traveling on public roads outside United States for the first time.
The move to Japan is part of Waymo’s “road trips,” a research project that involves testing its technology in various locations with various challenges. In Tokyo, the Waymo robotaxis will maneuver through crowded city and drive on the left side.
The road trips have so far focused on a dozen locations across the United States, usually to test out specific environments or conditions, such the extreme heat in Death Valley, California, or the rain in Miami. The company has also conducted vehicle tests in Buffalo, Washington, D.C., Seattle, and Las Vegas. Usually, Waymo starts by sending a small fleet to a city, where a human drives the car by hand and maps specific locations. The vehicles will eventually undergo autonomous testing, first with a human driver.
The taxi-hailing service GO and cab operator Nihon Kotsu will work together as part of Waymo’s “road trip” in Japan.
