Waymo and Toyota said Friday they will begin testing autonomous versions of Toyota’s bZ4X electric vehicle in Japan in 2027, as part of a partnership to supply robotaxis for international markets including the United Kingdom^1,2.

Toyota will manufacture the 2027 bZ4X vehicles and integrate Waymo’s self-driving hardware at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, according to TechCrunch and Engadget^1,2.

The companies said the vehicles are intended for other right-hand-drive markets after Japan, including the U.K.^1,2. TechCrunch reported that Waymo has been testing autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in London and plans a robotaxi service there after it receives permits¹.

Engadget said Waymo started testing Jaguar I-PACE taxis in Japan in 2025 with drivers from Tokyo taxi company Nihon Kotsu Co., and that Waymo plans to launch a fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Tokyo next year². Engadget said it is unclear when the bZ4X would be added to that commercial fleet².

TechCrunch said the announcement comes 18 months after Toyota and Waymo signed a preliminary agreement in April 2025 to explore an autonomous vehicle platform¹. For now, TechCrunch described the arrangement as closer to a conventional vehicle-supplier deal that fills regional needs¹.

The companies said they will continue to look at bringing Waymo’s technology to personally owned Toyota vehicles¹. Toyota executive vice president Hiroki Nakajima said in a statement that the collaboration would help scale the technology through Waymo’s ride-hailing service¹.

A joint statement quoted by Engadget said pairing Toyota’s manufacturing with Waymo’s technology would accelerate scaling of safety-validated Level 4 autonomous vehicles². What later U.K. timing and commercial fleet mix will be was not specified in the coverage^1,2.