Waymo, Tesla's biggest US robotaxi rival, will use a version of the Toyota bZ4X electric SUV as a robotaxi, the two companies announced on Oct. 30, 2026. Toyota will build the cars at its Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Aichi, and fit Waymo's self-driving hardware on the production line.

The plan

  • A test and validation fleet will start running in Japan in 2027.
  • The UK and other markets are to follow later.
  • The robotaxi version gets extra rear legroom, automatic doors, a power liftgate and ambient lighting.

Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov described Waymo's driver as "up to 20x safer", Electrek reported.

Why it matters for Tesla

Waymo already gives more than 500,000 paid rides a week across 15 US metro areas, Electrek said. It aims to start driverless paid rides in Tokyo in 2027 with taxi partners Nihon Kotsu and GO, using about 100 vehicles, and has picked Toronto for 2028.

Tesla is taking a different path, building its own two-seat Cybercab and expanding Model Y Robotaxi service. See our latest Robotaxi update.