▲ Google Autonomous Taxi
Following the United States and other regions, driverless taxis are expected to begin commercial operations in Japan starting next year.
According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), Waymo held a press conference in Tokyo today (September 15) and announced that it will launch commercial operations of driverless robotaxis (fully automated driverless taxis) in Tokyo in 2027.
Waymo explained that it is a subsidiary of Google's parent company, Alphabet, and plans to operate robotaxis in a fully autonomous mode without a driver in the vehicle.
The vehicles perceive their surroundings and collect map data using built-in cameras, radar, and LiDAR sensors.
Tekedra Mawakana, Co-CEO of Waymo, told reporters, "When providing services to passengers, we place importance on a fully driverless, automated driving method," and added, "(Autonomous vehicles) are adapting smoothly from congested areas of Tokyo to narrow alleyways."
Waymo plans to gradually increase the number of operating driverless taxis to 100.
Taxi fares will be based on the current taxi fare system.
Passengers can call a vehicle through taxi-hailing apps such as "GO" or "Waymo".
The vehicles will utilize the Jaguar I-Pace, a British electric vehicle (EV), while Nihon Kotsu, a Japanese taxi company, will be responsible for vehicle management and maintenance.
Waymo currently operates driverless taxis in 15 U.S. cities and is preparing services in cities such as London, United Kingdom, and Munich, Germany.
In China, big tech firm Baidu and autonomous driving company Pony.ai are speeding up commercialization through pilot operations of driverless cars.
In Japan, alongside Waymo, British startup Wayve, along with Nissan Motor and Uber, is pushing for pilot operations of driverless taxis within this year, engaging in a race for first commercialization.
Ichiro Kawanabe, chairman of Nihon Kotsu and also chairman of GO, said, "Robotaxis could be the answer to solving the issues of accidents, labor shortages, and transportation gaps that taxi operators have long struggled with."
However, challenges remain before commercialization can proceed smoothly in Japan, including the refinement of relevant legal regulations and alleviating passenger anxiety.
Nikkei pointed out that for commercialization, public safety commissions in each prefectural municipality must grant permits for driverless vehicles, and regulations on specific details—such as driving zones, time slots, weather conditions like rainfall, remote monitoring, and response procedures in the event of an accident—must also be established.
Given that a public opinion survey conducted by research firm MM Research Institute last June showed that more than half of the respondents expressed concerns about the safety of driverless driving, eliminating public anxiety regarding accidents is also cited as a major task ahead of commercialization.
(Photo provided by Waymo, Yonhap News)
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