Alphabet-owned Waymo will begin testing its robotaxis in Tokyo, Japan in early 2025, marking the company’s first step towards international expansion. The move follows partnerships with taxi operator Nihon Kotsu and taxi-hailing app GO.
Key areas of Tokyo, including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō, will be mapped by human drivers to help train Waymo’s AI systems. The company also plans to test its robotaxis on a closed course in the US built to mimic Japan’s driving conditions.
Waymo has not yet committed to starting commercial operations in Tokyo but expects to remain in the country for an extended period. Nihon Kotsu will oversee management and servicing of Waymo’s vehicles in Japan.
The move into left-hand traffic marks the company’s first international expansion, as Tokyo seeks to capitalize on autonomous technology’s potential benefits for its aging population. Several developers are already working on self-driving vehicles in Japan, including local startup Tier IV and robotics firm ZMP.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/16/waymo-to-begin-testing-in-tokyo-its-first-international-destination-.html