Toyota and Waymo Plan Japan bZ4X Tests in 2027

Toyota and Waymo plan to begin testing autonomous bZ4X electric vehicles in Japan in 2027, with Toyota installing Waymo’s self-driving hardware at its Takaoka plant. The companies describe the program as a testing and validation phase, not a confirmed commercial launch. The vehicles will be assembled at Toyota’s plant in Toyota City, where the autonomous equipment will be fitted during production. Toyota’s chief technology officer, Hiroki Nakajima, said the initial operation would involve a limited number of vehicles. The companies have not named a fleet count or Japanese test locations. The bZ4X plan is part of a broader effort by the automaker and the autonomous-driving company to work together on vehicle technology. Their earlier partnership, announced in April 2025, opened discussions on an autonomous-vehicle platform and the possible use of Waymo technology in future Toyota vehicles. The bZ4X testing arrangement adds a specific vehicle and Japan timetable to that collaboration. Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov said Japan and the United Kingdom are the right-hand-drive markets the partners will start with. His remarks did not establish whether that means testing or commercial...