On September 14, 2026, Waymo announced it will work with Nihon Kotsu, a Tokyo taxi operator with nearly 100 years of history, and GO, a mobility platform, to bring fully autonomous rides to Tokyo. It would be Waymo’s first service in Asia, though Waymo’s post doesn’t state that in those words, so treat it as our reading of the announcement.
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Target | 2027, first fully driverless trips open to public riders |
| Fleet | Initial fleet, growing to about 100 vehicles (planned, not current) |
| Booking | GO and Waymo apps |
| Partners | Nihon Kotsu and GO |
| Depends on | National and local approval, plus validation of the technology and joint operations |
From a 2024 partnership to a 2027 target
The partnership dates to December 2024, and Waymo arrived in Tokyo in 2025. Over the past year, Waymo vehicles have driven autonomously around the city with trained Nihon Kotsu crew members supervising. Waymo says those drives covered narrow neighborhood roads and dense crowds.
The companies will start with an initial fleet and grow to about 100 vehicles across key Tokyo neighborhoods. GO’s taxi app will offer both conventional taxis and autonomous Waymo trips, and Waymo describes a 24/7 commercial service. Nihon Kotsu president Yasuharu Wakabayashi called the initiative a crucial opportunity that coexists with human-driven taxis and helps address future driver shortages.
Why It Matters to You
- If you live in or visit Tokyo, you could eventually book a driverless Waymo or a regular taxi from the same GO app.
- Nothing is open to the public yet. The 2027 target depends on regulatory approval and finishing validation.
- No fare has been announced, and no source says waiting times would fall.
Reading the claims with care
Nippon.com reports Japan had about 230,000 taxi drivers at the end of August 2023, roughly 20% fewer than in March 2019. That’s national data and three years old, and the sources show no newer figure. Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said Waymo is “demonstrated to be over 15 times safer than human drivers,” but Waymo’s post gives no time period or benchmark for that claim. Waymo’s own Safety Impact page, which uses US surface-street benchmarks, reports 95% fewer serious-injury crashes through June 2026. Those results come from US cities, not Tokyo. SoraNews24 questions the demand: Tokyo has dense rail and bus networks, and most taxi trips start in central areas where cabs are easy to find. It suggests the launch is more about preparing for a future driver shortage and building trust early.
Quick answers
When can the public ride a Waymo in Tokyo? Waymo targets 2027. The date depends on national and local regulatory approval and on finishing validation.
How will riders book? Through the GO and Waymo apps. GO’s taxi app is planned to offer both regular taxis and Waymo trips.
Is there a driver in the Tokyo cars today? The vehicles have driven under supervision from trained Nihon Kotsu crew members. The 2027 service is planned to be fully autonomous.
Is Japan short of taxi drivers? The industry reports it is. Nippon.com’s 2023 data shows a drop of about 20% since 2019, and SoraNews24 says fewer new drivers enter than veterans retire.
Sources
- Waymo: Opening our doors to Tokyo riders in 2027 with Nihon Kotsu and GO (Sep 14, 2026)
- Nippon.com: Japan’s Taxi Industry Suffering from a Lack of Drivers (accessed Oct 13, 2026; data as of Aug 2023)
- SoraNews24: Does Tokyo need self-driving taxis? Waymo thinks so, plans to launch fleet soon (Sep 16, 2026)
- Waymo: Safety Impact data hub (accessed Oct 13, 2026; data through June 2026)