Waymo, the autonomous driving technology subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., announced a strategic partnership on Tuesday with Japanese companies GO Inc. and Nihon Kotsu Co. to develop and launch a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Tokyo. The companies stated their goal is to begin commercial operations in 2027, marking Waymo’s first planned deployment outside the United States.
The collaboration brings together Waymo’s autonomous driving system, known as the Waymo Driver, with the local market expertise of its Japanese partners. According to a joint statement, GO Inc., Japan’s largest taxi app operator, will provide the mobile application platform for hailing rides and managing payments. Nihon Kotsu, a prominent taxi and limousine operator in Japan, will contribute its fleet management and customer service experience.
In the announcement, executives from the three companies outlined their respective roles.
“Our collaboration with GO and Nihon Kotsu enables us to bring the safety and convenience of the Waymo Driver to the Japanese market and partner with two companies that know the local transportation landscape best,” said Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo.
The partnership plans to deploy a fleet of vehicles equipped with the Waymo Driver. While the specific vehicle model has not been announced, the service will operate without a human driver in the front seat. The companies stated they will begin by launching the service in a designated area within Tokyo and intend to expand operations over time.
Ichiro Kawanabe, chairman of Nihon Kotsu and president of GO, commented on the agreement. “The prospect of a new form of transportation in Japan, autonomous taxis, is a huge and exciting one for us,” Kawanabe said. “By combining the strengths of each of the three companies, we can expect to create a new service experience in the Japanese mobility market.”
This initiative follows regulatory changes in Japan that support the development of autonomous vehicle technology. In April 2023, Japan’s revised Road Traffic Act took effect, establishing a legal framework for Level 4 autonomous driving, defined as vehicles that can operate without human intervention under specific conditions, on public roads.
Waymo currently operates commercial autonomous ride-hailing services in several U.S. cities, including Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The company has logged millions of fully autonomous driving miles on public roads. The partnership with GO and Nihon Kotsu represents a key step in its plans for international expansion. Further details on the operational scope and service area are expected to be released closer to the planned launch date.
