Waymo, the autonomous vehicle subsidiary of Alphabet, is set to take its self-driving technology to the streets of Tokyo, Japan, in early 2025, marking the company's first foray outside the United States. This move is part of Waymo's "road trips" program, which involves testing its technology in various cities to tackle different challenges and environments.

In Tokyo, Waymo's robotaxis will face unique challenges, including left-hand driving and navigating a dense urban environment. The company has previously tested its vehicles in over a dozen US cities, including Miami, Death Valley, Buffalo, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas, and Seattle, to name a few. These tests have focused on specific conditions, such as rain, extreme heat, and other environmental factors.

Waymo's Japanese "road trip" will see the company partner with taxi-hailing app GO and taxi company Nihon Kotsu. Nihon Kotsu will be responsible for managing and servicing the Waymo vehicles, while its drivers will initially operate the vehicles manually to map key areas of the Japanese capital. These areas include Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō.

As part of the partnership, Waymo will work with Nihon Kotsu's team to train its employees on how to operate Waymo's self-driving Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. The vehicles will eventually test in autonomous mode, with a human operator behind the wheel, before transitioning to fully autonomous operation.

The announcement comes on the heels of General Motors' decision to scrap its Cruise robotaxi program, which also ended plans to launch a driverless ride-hailing service in Japan with partner Honda. In October 2023, Honda, Cruise, and GM announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo together in 2026 using Cruise's purpose-built robotaxis, called The Origin.

Waymo's expansion into Japan marks a significant milestone in the company's efforts to develop and deploy autonomous vehicle technology on a global scale. The move also underscores the growing importance of the Asian market in the development of self-driving cars, with companies like Toyota, Honda, and Baidu already investing heavily in the region.

As Waymo continues to push the boundaries of autonomous vehicle technology, its foray into Japan is likely to have significant implications for the industry as a whole. With the company's technology set to be tested in one of the world's most populous and complex cities, the results of this "road trip" will be closely watched by industry observers and competitors alike.

In the broader context, Waymo's expansion into Japan highlights the need for companies to think globally when it comes to developing and deploying autonomous vehicle technology. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be crucial for companies to adapt to different markets, regulatory environments, and cultural contexts in order to achieve widespread adoption.