Waymo has selected the Toyota bZ4X electric crossover as its next autonomous vehicle platform. Production will take place at the Takaoka plant in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. Unlike previous models that required aftermarket modifications, the integration of sensors, lidars, radars, and computing hardware will occur directly on the Toyota assembly line.
This initiative stems from a partnership announced in April 2025. The move expands Waymo's existing fleet, which currently includes the Jaguar I-Pace, the Zeekr RT platform, and the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 5. This deployment demonstrates the versatility of the Waymo Driver software across diverse vehicle architectures.
Initial testing and validation in Japan are scheduled for next year, with subsequent expansion planned for the United Kingdom and other international markets. Additionally, Waymo is exploring the potential for equipping private Toyota vehicles with its technology and is collaborating with Woven by Toyota on urban traffic safety telemetry.
