Waymo, Japanese ride-hailing giant GO, and major fleet operator Nihon Kotsu just announced plans to launch Japan’s very first Level 4 autonomous taxi service, targeting a full rollout across the capital by 2027.
The partnership plans to deploy around 100 self-driving vehicles to start. Waymo provides the autonomous driving software, Nihon Kotsu handles the day-to-day fleet management, and riders can call a car using either the GO or Waymo app. The move follows a year of testing in seven Tokyo wards where human safety drivers sat behind the wheel to map roads and fine-tune performance.
Beyond tech bragging rights, the initiative aims to tackle two pressing issues in Japan: curbing traffic accidents and easing the severe nationwide taxi driver shortage. Nihon Kotsu leadership noted that traditional drivers shouldn't worry about getting replaced anytime soon, emphasizing that human-driven and autonomous cabs will share the road, with new technical roles opening up for fleet support.
Commercial service hinges on final safety approvals and local regulatory green lights, but Tokyo commuters can expect to hail a driverless ride in the near future.
