Waymo will use Toyota bZ4X electric SUVs as robotaxis, starting with tests in Japan next year, The Verge, TechCrunch and Engadget report. The firms plan to bring the cars to the UK and other places where people drive on the left, the outlets report.

Toyota will build the cars at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Japan, the outlets report. Waymo's sensors and computers will go in on the factory line as each car is made, The Verge reports. Until now, Waymo has bought finished cars and fitted them with its gear later at a separate site, the outlet reports.

Waymo already uses the Jaguar I-Pace and a model based on the Zeekr RT, with a Hyundai Ioniq 5 version coming soon, The Verge reports. Adding the Toyota could help Waymo show its system works in many kinds of cars, the outlet reports.

Waymo has been testing Jaguar robotaxis in London for months and plans to launch there once it gets permits, TechCrunch reports. In Tokyo, it has had drivers from local taxi firm Nihon Kotsu drive its cars to train its software, Engadget reports. It plans a fully driverless service in Tokyo next year, but it is not clear when the Toyotas will join, the outlet reports.

The deal comes 18 months after the two firms first agreed to work together in April 2025, the outlets report. They also said they will keep looking at putting Waymo's tech in Toyota cars that people own, TechCrunch reports.

What we know: Toyota will build bZ4X robotaxis for Waymo, with tests in Japan in 2027.
What we don't: When riders in Tokyo or London can book one.