Waymo, the autonomous arm of Alphabet, has provided an update on the progress of its forthcoming robotaxi trial set to take place in Tokyo, Japan later this year. To commemorate the arrival of its vehicles in Japan, Waymo held an event offering a first look at one of its AVs at Takanawa Gateway City with Yoichi Kise, President and CEO of East Japan Railway Company, as the guest of honor.
Announced towards the end of 2024, the pilot represents a partnership between Waymo, GO (a Japanese taxi platform), and Nihon Kotsu (a taxi company based in Tokyo) aimed at introducing Waymo’s technology to Japan and exploring the potential benefits it could bring to Tokyo’s transportation ecosystem.
With these partners, the Alphabet subsidiary says it has been engaging in preparatory work with these partners. Nihon Kotsu has established a new depot to accommodate Waymo’s vehicles, while Waymo itself has conducted training sessions with teams from Nihon Kotsu and GO (with a focus on the best practices for autonomous fleet operations management). Together the companies have begun fostering community relationships through outreach to the general public, local organizations, and government agencies.
This work will also see Nihon Kotsu’s drivers manually drive Waymo’s vehicles around Tokyo, navigating several wards of the city including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō. These vehicles will, altogether, create detailed 3D maps of Tokyo and help the companies gather essential experience from professional drivers that will inform the development of Waymo’s technology for Japan.
Waymo says that these 3D maps will serve as the foundation for its simulation environment, where its engineers will be able to test and refine its autonomous driving technology. A digital simulation of downtown Tokyo, for example, will help Waymo adapt this technology to local traffic patterns and unique road features in a way that helps the vehicles prepare for their eventual fully autonomous operation across this and further areas of the city.
Before deploying its robotaxis onto Tokyo’s streets, Waymo will continue to work closely with Japan’s policymakers, regulators and local safety officials. With these partners and the people of Tokyo, the company plans to explore the ways in which it could benefit the city’s transportation ecosystem, while improving safety and mobility.
