This is shattering news in the world of autonomous vehicles. Waymo announced that it will begin testing its vehicles in Tokyo in early 2025. This is the first time the company has ventured outside the United States. Let’s take stock.
No commercial launch
For now, Waymo has decided to partner with Japan’s largest taxi company to test its vehicles: Nihon Kotsu. Its Jaguar I-PACEs will therefore circulate on the streets of Tokyo, but the company’s drivers will manually pilot them in order to map key areas of the capital.
The idea is of course to use driving data to train AI systems. At the same time, Waymo will test its robotaxi on a closed circuit in the United States intended to imitate Japanese driving conditions.
Quoted by CNBCthe company underlines:
Our upcoming road trip to Tokyo gives us the opportunity to work alongside local partners, government officials, and community groups to understand the new landscape. We’ll learn how Waymo can serve Tokyo residents and become a beneficial part of the city’s transportation ecosystem.
On the Japanese side, the authorities are also delighted with this initiative. They indeed believe that autonomous driving technologies are of major interest for the country given its demographic problems and the aging of the population.
Waymo sees the future with optimism
Everything seems to be going well for this company headed by Google. It even managed to raise $5.6 billion last month, bringing its valuation to $45 billion, recalls Electrek.
It is gradually expanding its activities across the four corners of the United States with a presence in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Miami, enough to provide no less than 150,000 paid journeys each week.
If accidents are always possible and could damage its reputation, the other shadow on the horizon is none other than Tesla and Elon Musk, who intends to move very quickly on his Cybercab. Only time will tell us if this bet is kept.
What to remember:
- Waymo will test its robotaxi on the roads of Tokyo next year
- This is not yet a commercial activity and human drivers will still operate the vehicles
- The lights are green for the Google company, even if Tesla and Elon Musk hope to take the throne from it
