Waymo sends unmanned cars to Japan for first international tests
By ForGeeks Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, will deploy its autonomous cars on roads outside the US for the first time. A partnership with Japanese cab companies Nihon Kotsu and GO will pave the way for drone tests in Tokyo.
Waymo’s partnership with Japanese cab companies Nihon Kotsu and GO will pave the way for drone tests in Tokyo.
Data collection and “road trip”
The project is positioned as a “road trip” that aims to collect data on the nuances of Japanese traffic. In Tokyo, Waymo cars will be driven manually to map and study the characteristics of left-turn traffic as well as dense urban development.
The project is designed to collect data on Japanese traffic.
The first fleet of 25 vehicles will arrive in Japan in early 2025. The drones will be operated by Nihon Kotsu, one of Tokyo’s leading cab operators.
The first fleet of 25 vehicles will arrive in Japan in early 2025.
Waymo spokesperson Sandy Karp noted:
“We are keen to explore how our technology fits into the existing transportation system and how to better engage with local authorities and communities. However, there are no plans to launch passenger services in Tokyo yet.”
Partnership with GO: a signal of future ambition
The involvement of popular Japanese cab app GO may hint at Waymo’s future plans to integrate its autonomous cars with local platforms. Such a strategy is already underway in the U.S., where Waymo is partnering with Uber to provide robotaxi services in Austin and Atlanta.
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Waymo on the global stage and current accomplishments
Waymo’s business in the U.S. is growing slowly but steadily. It now has about 700 autonomous cars in operation in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin and Phoenix. The company is also preparing to launch a robotaxi service in Atlanta in partnership with Uber and plans to enter the Miami market in 2026.
Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai recently reported that Waymo’s unmanned cars are making 175,000 paid trips per week, covering more than a million miles.
Waymo’s unmanned cars are making 175,000 paid trips per week, covering more than a million miles.
In Tokyo, the cars will operate in certain areas including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Tiyoda, Tyuo, Shinagawa and Koto. Initially, the controls will be handled by autonomous driving specialists and then, when ready, Waymo will switch to semi-autonomous mode with a safety driver. Fully unmanned operations have not yet been confirmed.
Waymo.
Surmounting Challenges in the Japanese Market
Japan remains relatively behind the US and China in the development of autonomous vehicles. The main reason is that leading Japanese automakers such as Toyota and Nissan are focusing on overseas markets. For example, both companies are collaborating with Chinese partners to launch robotaxis in China.
The international trials in Japan will allow Waymo to demonstrate confidence in its technology at a time when competitors, including General Motors, are scaling back investment in robotaxis, shifting to driver-assistance technology and personal autonomous vehicles.
