Waymo, Nihon Kotsu to roll out driverless taxis in Tokyo in 2027

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Waymo, Nihon Kotsu to roll out driverless taxis in Tokyo in 2027 — Image source: Unblock Media

Waymo, Nihon Kotsu, and GO to launch Tokyo’s first fully autonomous taxis in 2027
Partnership aims to address Japan’s driver shortage and marks Waymo’s debut in Asian markets

On September 15, 2026 (UTC), Reuters reported that Waymo plans to launch Tokyo’s first fully autonomous taxi service with Nihon Kotsu and GO in 2027. The venture will move directly to full commercial deployment, starting with a small fleet of autonomous vehicles and scaling up to around 100 cars serving central Tokyo neighborhoods. Regulatory approval and technical validation are still pending for the launch.

Waymo will provide its self-driving platform, using modified Jaguar I-PACE vehicles and its operational software. Nihon Kotsu will handle legal compliance and assume operational liability, while GO will integrate the service into its app and oversee local partnerships. Rides will be available through both the GO app and Waymo’s own app, making booking accessible for customers across Tokyo.

The partners say the initiative targets Japan’s ongoing shortage of professional drivers, a challenge worsened by the country’s aging population and shrinking workforce. Japan’s regulatory system requires licensed operators for commercial taxi services, a role fulfilled in this partnership by Nihon Kotsu.

This marks Waymo’s first commercial expansion into Asia, following a period of supervised autonomous trials in Tokyo that began in 2025. The move to full driverless operations depends on final regulatory approval. According to Automotive World, the launch signals a shift in the global robotaxi industry from testing toward multi-city integration, leveraging local expertise.

Waymo published further details of the project on its official blog on September 14, 2026, emphasizing the intent to combine local operational experience with advanced autonomous technology to help address pressing workforce needs. The partnership underlines growing momentum for international autonomous transport and reflects a trend toward deeper collaboration between mobility technology firms and established transport providers.