Partnering with Nihon Kotsu and GO on our first international road trip

こんにちは(Konnichiwa) and hello, Japan! We're thrilled to announce that Waymo, in partnership with Nihon Kotsu and GO, will bring our autonomous vehicles to Tokyo for our first international road trip. There, our Driver will learn and adapt to left-hand traffic and new driving nuances associated with operating in one of the world's most densely populated urban environments.

Our upcoming road trip to Tokyo gives us the chance to work alongside local partners, government officials, and community groups to understand the new landscape. We’ll learn how Waymo can serve Tokyo’s residents and become a beneficial part of the city’s transportation ecosystem. And every step of the way, we’ll take a rigorous approach to validating our technology's safety and performance.

This expansion into Japan aligns with the country's vision for the future of transportation. Over the years, the Japanese National and Tokyo Metropolitan governments have been proactively working to address the evolving transportation needs of society and foster the adoption of innovative technologies that can enhance safety and mobility. We are engaging with Japanese policymakers, regulators, and local safety officials to ensure a responsible and seamless implementation of Waymo's technology to Tokyo's streets.

The first Waymo, all-electric Jaguar I-PACEs will arrive in Tokyo in early 2025. Our partner, Nihon Kotsu, Tokyo’s largest taxi company, will oversee the management and servicing of the Waymo vehicles. The companies are working closely together to train Nihon Kotsu’s team on operating vehicles equipped with Waymo's autonomous driving system. Initially, Nihon Kotsu drivers will operate the vehicles manually to map key areas of the Japanese capital, including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō. 

Through this initial phase in Tokyo, we’ll gain valuable experience that accelerates the development of the Waymo Driver, allowing us to evaluate how our AI-powered driver generalizes to new environments through simulation. This expansion follows Waymo's best-in-class safety framework—the same approach that guided us from the world's first fully autonomous ride on public roads to tens of millions of miles on US roads, and soon, our first kilometers in Tokyo.  

We look forward to sharing more as we introduce Waymo to Tokyo residents, providing updates on our progress along the way.