Toyota and Waymo Will Test Self-Driving bZ4X SUVs in Japan in 2027

Toyota Motor Corporation and Waymo have advanced their autonomous driving collaboration. Initial tests involving a fleet of autonomous Toyota bZ4X units are scheduled to begin in Japan in 2027, the companies said in a statement reported November 4, 2026.

The vehicles will be manufactured at Toyota Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Production will cover both vehicle assembly and the integration of Waymo autonomous driving hardware. Once the fleet passes the necessary tests, the vehicles will be deployed to the United Kingdom and other markets served by Waymo in the following years.

The expanded alliance builds on the preliminary agreement forged in April last year, and is seen as a major milestone in the expansion of Japan first fully autonomous ride-hailing service using high-volume, domestically manufactured vehicles. By pairing Toyota global manufacturing and vehicle development expertise with Waymo fully autonomous technology, the companies aim to accelerate the scaling of safety-validated Level 4 autonomous vehicles globally.