Waymo, GO and Nihon Kotsu target Tokyo robotaxi service in 2027

Waymo, Japanese taxi-hailing operator GO and taxi company Nihon Kotsu announced a plan to commercialize fully driverless taxi service in Tokyo in 2027. The partners said they expect to begin with a small fleet and scale in phases toward roughly 100 vehicles, with rides available through the GO and Waymo apps. Waymo would supply its autonomous driving system and operational infrastructure, while Nihon Kotsu would run day-to-day operations, depots and user support. The companies said a launch date remains contingent on safety validation and required permits and licenses.