Waymo to launch autonomous vehicle tests in Japan
Waymo writes that it will work with Japan’s largest taxi company, Nihon Kotsu, and the taxi app ‘GO’ to begin testing its Jaguar I-PACE vehicles on Tokyo’s streets. As Waymo puts it: “There, our Driver will learn and adapt to left-hand traffic and new driving nuances associated with operating in one of the world’s most densely populated urban environments.”
The first of Waymo’s I-PACE fleet is to arrive “in early 2025,” and will be managed and overseen by Nihon Kotsu. Initially, the company will also manually drive the vehicles to map the roads in key areas of Tokyo.
The US American company writes:” Our upcoming road trip to Tokyo gives us the chance to work alongside local partners, government officials, and community groups to understand the new landscape. We’ll learn how Waymo can serve Tokyo’s residents and become a beneficial part of the city’s transportation ecosystem.” A rigorous approach to safety and performance validation will also be taken.
While Waymo recently faced a minor scandal involving an empty robotaxi circling endlessly before being turned off in San Francisco, however, odd behaviour is the exact reason why such testing is so important. In October, a $5.6 billion investment should help the company get more testing miles under its belt, as well as increase its access to new markets.
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