// THE VERGE — MONDO
Waymo’s next robotaxi is a purpose-built Toyota bZ4X
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Toyota will assemble Waymo-equipped bZ4X electric SUVs directly on its factory line in Japan ahead of planned robotaxi rollouts in Tokyo and the UK.
Toyota will assemble Waymo-equipped bZ4X electric SUVs directly on its factory line in Japan ahead of planned robotaxi rollouts in Tokyo and the UK.
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Waymo announced today that when it launches a robotaxi service in Tokyo in 2027, it will use Toyota bZ4X electric vehicles that are assembled in Japan. The news builds on the strategic partnership between Waymo and Toyota which was first announced in April 2025.
The robotaxis will be built entirely under one roof at Toyota’s Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Instead of building regular cars and modifying them later, the factory will install Waymo’s self-driving sensors and computers right on the assembly line as each car is made.
A team-up between the world’s largest automaker and the world’s leader in autonomous driving obviously has huge implications. Currently, Waymo uses two vehicle models on the road today — the Jaguar I-Pace and Zeekr RT — with a third based on the Hyundai Ioniq 5 set to deploy soon. By adding the bZ4X, Waymo is attempting to prove that its autonomous driving technology is compatible with a wide range of vehicle types. Waymo has long positioned itself as a software and systems supplier — the “Waymo Driver” — rather than an automaker.