Alphabet's Waymo announced plans to partner with Japanese taxi app operator GO and taxi company Nihon Kotsu to launch Japan's first fully autonomous commercial taxi service in Tokyo in 2027. The expansion marks Waymo's first international city for commercial driverless rides, pending regulatory approval.
Waymo's driverless taxi service is experiencing rapid expansion to San Francisco and 14 other cities, but the scaling effort is accompanied by an increasing number of technical problems and glitches. The company appears to be prioritizing growth over resolving operational issues.
Uber Technologies shares dropped sharply after the company issued third-quarter earnings guidance below analyst expectations while announcing plans to invest over $10 billion in robotaxi expansion. The weak outlook comes amid uncertainty over its partnership with Waymo, though Uber maintains the Alphabet unit remains an important partner.
Transport for London granted private hire vehicle licenses to Uber Technologies Inc. and UK startup Wayve Technologies Ltd., allowing them to offer self-driving taxi rides with a safety driver present. The approval makes them the first companies authorized for autonomous taxi services in London, ahead of competitors Waymo and Baidu.
Alphabet's autonomous driving unit Waymo is considering options to exit its robotaxi partnership with Uber Technologies as relations between the two companies deteriorate amid increasing competition in the self-driving vehicle market.
