Tokyo is getting a futuristic addition to its famously efficient transport network. To accompany its train and subway systems, which are so bafflingly punctual that a 20-second delay warrants a formal apology, the Japanese capital will soon have taxis with nobody behind the wheel.
Waymo, the autonomous driving company that’s been turning heads across the US in recent years, has announced plans to launch a fully driverless taxi service in Tokyo in 2027. If the necessary approvals are secured, it would be the first fully autonomous commercial taxi service on Japan’s public roads, as well as Waymo’s first commercial expansion into Asia.
Fully autonomous robotaxis have already been operating in the United States and China, primarily through services like Waymo and Cruise. Earlier this month, two companies got the green light from TfL so London could join the gang, although they still have to have a safety driver in the car (which kind of defeats the point).
The company is teaming up with Japanese taxi app GO and long-established operator Nihon Kotsu to make it happen. The plan is to start with a small fleet before gradually expanding to around 100 autonomous vehicles across key Tokyo neighbourhoods. Passengers will be able to book the cars through both the GO and Waymo apps.
And it is exactly how it sounds – there will be no human driver sitting in the front. Waymo says the service will launch as an unmanned operation for members of the public, although the 2027 timeline is still dependent on regulatory approval and the completion of safety validation.
How will Tokyo’s driverless taxis work?
The cars won’t exactly be coming out of nowhere. Waymo has already been testing its technology on Tokyo’s roads since 2025, working with Nihon Kotsu drivers to collect mapping data and help its autonomous driving system learn the city. The testing has included seven Tokyo wards, with vehicles navigating the capital’s narrow streets, dense traffic and left-hand driving.
The three companies have divided up the job. Waymo will provide the autonomous driving technology, operating platform and vehicle-management systems; GO will handle the integration with Japan’s taxi industry and provide its booking platform; and Nihon Kotsu will take responsibility for fleet and operational management.
For anyone imagining a fleet of futuristic cars suddenly taking over the entire city, though, the rollout is expected to be gradual. The initial service will be relatively small before expanding towards around 100 vehicles in selected neighbourhoods.
Why Tokyo?
Japan is dealing with an ageing population and a shortage of professional drivers, including in the taxi industry. Waymo and its Japanese partners say autonomous taxis could help supplement the country’s transport network as the workforce shrinks.
Tokyo also presents an interesting test for autonomous driving technology. Its roads range from packed central thoroughfares to extremely narrow residential streets, while pedestrians, cyclists, delivery vehicles and famously complicated junctions all have to be accounted for. Waymo has spent the past year adapting its technology to those conditions rather than transplanting its US service to Japan.
When can you actually ride one?
The target is 2027, but there isn’t a confirmed launch date.
The service still needs the relevant national and local permits and licences, while Waymo and its partners continue to validate both the technology and how the joint operation will work. Japan’s current regulatory framework requires human drivers in vehicles operating on public roads, meaning the companies need the necessary approvals before a driverless commercial service can begin.
If everything goes to plan, however, Tokyo could soon have a new option for getting around after a night out, heading to a meeting or simply crossing the city, one where you can climb into the back seat, put your destination into an app and let the car do the driving.
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