Waymo enters Southeast Asia

Waymo announced plans to launch robotaxis in Singapore by 2028, marking its first Southeast Asia market. The move comes days after revealing a Japan expansion.

Singapore's crowded AV market

Singapore already hosts Chinese robotaxi firms WeRide and Pony AI running autonomous shuttles. Waymo will compete in one of the world's most crowded self-driving car markets.

Training phase in 2027

Waymo's electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles will arrive in Singapore in coming months and undergo a training phase in 2027 to learn local roads and weather patterns.

Japan's first robotaxis in 2027

Waymo will launch robotaxis in Tokyo in 2027 through partnerships with Japanese taxi app GO and taxi company Nihon Kotsu. Japan currently has no fully operational public robotaxis.

“We'll grow our fleet responsibly over time, steadily operating until anyone in Tokyo can download an app and take a ride.”

Driver concerns about job losses

Rapid robotaxi expansion has unnerved drivers who fear losing jobs. Singapore's transport minister noted that even all autonomous vehicles worldwide would represent less than 10% of the city's 70,000 taxi drivers.

“Even if I gathered every AV in the world today and moved them all to Singapore, there would only be about 7,000 cars, or less than 10% of our total taxi and private-hire car population.”