Toyota Motor Corporation (“Toyota”) and Waymo today announced the next phase of their autonomous driving collaboration. Building on the announcement in April 2025, the two companies will begin initial operations of an autonomous ride-hailing fleet using a purpose-built Toyota bZ4X vehicle in Japan in 2027, with commercial service to follow.

For full details, read the press release.

The announcement marks a shift from exploration toward real-world service. Road traffic crashes claimed about 1.16 million lives worldwide in 2025, according to the World Health Organization, while many people with limited mobility options, including older adults, people with disabilities and those who are unable to drive, need new ways to stay independent and connected to their communities.

As part of the broader collaboration, Woven by Toyota ("WbyT") will also explore additional initiatives that support their shared goal of fewer road safety incidents, including how insights from Waymo’s real-world operations, data-driven intelligence, and technology could help improve safety for other road users.

Separately, WbyT is also exploring how Toyota vehicles can connect with the infrastructure around them, with the aim of enhancing well-being for all and helping traffic flow more smoothly. Over time, those efforts aim to complement both fully autonomous fleets and vehicles with partial automation.

Together with Toyota and Waymo, WbyT will continue working toward a world with zero traffic accidents and freedom of movement for all.