Alphabet’s Waymo is expanding its reach to India, with autonomous taxis heading to Tokyo in early 2025. This marks the company’s first international expansion beyond the US, with a potential solution for Japan’s aging population seeking traffic solutions.
Alphabet’s Waymo Expands Beyond US to the World’s Most Populous City
Autonomous Taxis Head to Tokyo in Waymo’s First International Expansion
Waymo‘s electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles will hit the busy roads in Tokyo, a city of 13 million residents, in early 2025. This marks the company’s first international expansion beyond the US.
The robotaxi company currently operates a fleet of some 700 vehicles in a handful of American cities but has yet to launch any official commercial operations outside of the country. Laying the groundwork for a potential international expansion, Waymo will allow the company to “evaluate how our A.I.-powered driver generalizes to new environments through simulation,” according to a statement.
Waymo is partnering with the taxi app GO and Nihon Kotsu, Tokyo’s largest taxi company, as it tests out its vehicles in the Japanese capital. Initially, Nihon Kotsu drivers will manually operate Waymo vehicles to map Tokyo’s key areas like Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa and Kōtō. This will help train the self-driving company’s A.I. systems on the city’s dense urban environment.
Japan’s Aging Population Seeks Traffic Solutions
Japan‘s aging population provides room for much-needed traffic solutions, with the Japanese government eyeing self-driving cars as a potential way to bolster road safety for the world’s most elderly population. Waymo’s expansion into Japan “aligns with the country’s vision for the future of transportation,” according to the company.
Growing Self-Driving Ecosystem in Japan
Although Japan’s self-driving ecosystem has historically seen less movement than markets in the US and China, the nation’s robotaxi vision is picking up steam. Earlier this year, the Japanese government unveiled plans to allow autonomous driving services on at least 25 public road routes by next spring, with plans to later expand this figure to 100 routes.
Waymo will tap into Japanese policymakers, regulators, and local safety officials as it deploys its autonomous vehicles across Tokyo. The company’s expansion into Japan also signals the interest in one day offering rides to the Japanese public.
