Waymo, the autonomous driving subsidiary of Alphabet, has announced plans to test its self-driving taxis in Tokyo, marking the company’s first venture outside of the United States.

The company revealed that a selection of its autonomous vehicles will be making their way to the bustling heart of Tokyo in the early part of next year. This initiative is being carried out in collaboration with Nihon Kotsu, Tokyo’s principal taxi service, and Japan’s widely-used taxi-hailing app, GO. Initially, Nihon Kotsu drivers will manually navigate the Waymo vehicles to create a detailed map of significant areas in Tokyo, including Minato, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Chiyoda, Chūō, Shinagawa, and Kōtō. The company hopes to launch a paid robotaxi service as part of a pilot program, but a specific launch date has not been disclosed.

Waymo believes that testing its technology in Tokyo, a city known for its dense population and unique driving conditions, will provide invaluable insights into left-hand traffic and specific driving behaviours. This will help in refining their autonomous-driving technology for different traffic conditions.

“Embarking on a journey to Tokyo allows us to work closely with local stakeholders, government officials, and community groups to comprehend the new landscape,” Waymo stated in their blog post. “Our goal is to understand how we can best serve the people of Tokyo and contribute positively to the city’s transportation ecosystem. Safety and performance of our technology will be paramount and validated rigorously at every stage.”

The company is also liaising with Japanese policymakers, regulators, and safety officials to ensure a smooth and responsible integration of Waymo’s technology into Tokyo’s traffic system.

Japan is currently facing a severe shortage of taxi drivers, which may have influenced Waymo’s decision to test their services there. However, a fully functional robotaxi service covering the entire city is probably still a few years away.

Waymo has been conducting tests of its autonomous vehicles for several years in various U.S. cities, including San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. The company also announced plans to commence operations in Miami and offers paid services to customers who book its robotaxis via a ride-sharing app.

The news of Waymo’s expansion comes as General Motors recently declared that it would stop funding Cruise, a competing autonomous-vehicle firm, due to high costs, scaling difficulties, and rising competition in the robotaxi market.