Tech Google's Waymo to test-drive robotaxis in Tokyo

Google's self-driving car unit, Waymo, plans to launch a pilot program for its autonomous taxi service in Tokyo next year. This initiative aims to address Japan's critical taxi driver shortage. Waymo will collaborate with GO, a ride-hailing platform, and Nihon Kotsu, a taxi operator, to conduct these tests. In early 2025, 25 self-driving vehicles equipped with the Waymo Driver system will operate within seven central Tokyo districts. The primary objective of this pilot is to gather crucial mapping data for a future commercial robotaxi service. These autonomous vehicles will operate at Level 4 autonomy, meaning they can handle most driving situations independently, but human intervention may be required in specific scenarios. Waymo will utilize electric vehicles manufactured by Jaguar Land Rover. These vehicles are designed to autonomously navigate to charging stations with low battery levels.

Japan will be the first place outside the U.S. to host testing by Waymo.

Waymo will use electric vehicles made by Jaguar Land Rover. When the battery runs low, the cars can drive to charging stations. EVs are still limited in their travel distances on a single charge. Waymo chose Tokyo because of its dense urban environment, which makes it relatively easy to find users in a small area. Conditions are ripe for an autonomous taxi service in Japan due to the severe labour shortage in the cab industry. The sector is undergoing a period of transformation with the legalization of what is known as the "Japanese version" of ride-hailing. Only licensed taxi companies are allowed to deploy gig drivers in that setup. Those services are offered during certain times of the day in certain areas where there is a lack of fully staffed taxi drivers.

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Paywall alert:

Hard for me to picture a taxi shortage. In Fukuoka at night , there would be one to two hundred taxies lined up waiting. With the meter running , a trip back to base was about 1200 Yen. They were so hard up for a fare , they would take us back for 300 to 500 Yen and leave the meter off.

Grandpa Frank said:

Hard for me to picture a taxi shortage. In Fukuoka at night , there would be one to two hundred taxies lined up waiting. With the meter running , a trip back to base was about 1200 Yen. They were so hard up for a fare , they would take us back for 300 to 500 Yen and leave the meter off.

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In Tokyo there are still many many taxis. But not always when you're looking for one.

Grandpa Frank said:

Hard for me to picture a taxi shortage. In Fukuoka at night , there would be one to two hundred taxies lined up waiting. With the meter running , a trip back to base was about 1200 Yen. They were so hard up for a fare , they would take us back for 300 to 500 Yen and leave the meter off.

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The means of transportation of present Fukuoka-shi are a bus and subways.
As for the bus, Tenjin district and around Hakata Station are flat rates of 150 yen.
A subway is Fukuoka Airport Line and seven dark circles line, and Tenjin ⇔ Hakata Station is 210 yen. When it is money of use of taxi, it is 1,470 yen.

The bus possession number of Nishi-Nippon Railroad (Nishitetsu) operating a route bus in Fukuoka-shi is about 2,700 and a scale largest in Japan when I put group companies together.