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Waymo and Toyota announced on October 30 that Toyota will build autonomous versions of its bZ4X electric SUV for Waymo's robotaxi service. Testing starts in Japan in 2027, with the UK and other right-hand drive markets to follow. Toyota will install Waymo's self-driving system at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture.
Key facts
- Toyota will manufacture the 2027 bZ4X and integrate the Waymo Driver at its Takaoka plant, according to TechCrunch.
- Testing and validation in Japan begin in 2027. The UK and other markets come later, with no dates given.
- Neither company said how many cars Toyota will build, according to The Next Web.
- Electrek reports the rider-focused changes include extra rear legroom, automatic doors, a power liftgate and ambient lighting. Sensor specs, volumes and per-vehicle costs were not shared.
- The deal follows a preliminary agreement signed in April 2025.
From exploration to a supplier deal
The 2025 agreement was vague, covering exploration of autonomous vehicle development. TechCrunch describes the new announcement as closer to a conventional vehicle supplier arrangement that fills specific regional needs for Waymo.
The companies also said they will keep studying how to bring Waymo's technology to personally owned Toyota vehicles. They also plan work with Woven by Toyota, the automaker's software arm, on using Waymo's operational and safety data to improve road safety, according to The Verge. Neither detail comes with a product or timeline.
Why it matters
The Verge notes that Waymo has so far bought finished cars, shipped them to a separate facility and retrofitted them with sensors, computers and wiring. Building the hardware in on Toyota's line could cut redundant labor, bespoke brackets and secondary shipping, and possibly lower costs. That is The Verge's assessment, not a figure either company has given.
Electrek argues that vehicle supply is Waymo's main constraint. Its fleet in the US is still mostly Jaguar I-Pace SUVs, a model Jaguar no longer produces, with the Zeekr-built Ojai and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 being added. The bZ4X would be a fourth platform. Electrek says Waymo now provides over 500,000 paid rides a week across 15 US metros.
The model choice also fits Waymo's Japan plans. According to Electrek, Waymo said in September it is targeting fully driverless commercial rides in Tokyo in 2027 with Nihon Kotsu and the GO app, scaling to about 100 vehicles pending regulatory approval. Engadget says it is unclear when the bZ4X will join the commercial fleet.
What to watch
- Volumes and cost. Without unit counts or pricing, it is hard to judge how much capacity Toyota adds.
- The UK. Waymo has tested Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in London and plans to launch once it receives permits, per TechCrunch. The bZ4X timing there is open.
- Personal vehicles. Both companies keep mentioning Waymo technology in Toyota cars people can buy, but nothing concrete has been announced.
- Rivals in Japan. The Next Web notes that Uber, Wayve and Nissan plan a robotaxi pilot in Tokyo.
Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov said the companies have no other countries or timelines to share beyond Japan and the UK.
