Toyota and Waymo to examine joint development of autonomous vehicle platform

Toyota Motor Corporation and Waymo have entered into a preliminary agreement to explore a collaboration aimed at advancing autonomous driving technologies. The initiative will also involve Woven by Toyota, a subsidiary focused on software and mobility innovation, which will contribute as Toyota’s strategic enabler.

The potential partnership is centered on the development of a new autonomous vehicle platform. Toyota and Waymo plan to leverage their respective capabilities—Waymo’s autonomous driving systems and Toyota’s vehicle development expertise—to enhance next-generation personally owned vehicles (POVs). Discussions regarding the scope of this collaboration are ongoing and subject to change.

Toyota has maintained a longstanding focus on traffic safety, pursuing a vision of zero traffic accidents through a three-pronged strategy that includes the integration of people, vehicles, and infrastructure. The company has implemented a range of automated and safety technologies under its Toyota Safety Sense suite, which is designed for widespread deployment across its vehicle lineup.

Waymo, a provider of autonomous driving technology, currently operates ride-hailing services in several U.S. cities, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin. The company reports serving over 250,000 rides weekly and has accumulated tens of millions of miles in autonomous driving. Waymo claims that its operations have resulted in significantly fewer injury-related crashes compared to human drivers. The company’s technology is designed to be adaptable across various platforms and business applications.

Both companies have expressed a shared interest in increasing road safety and broadening mobility access. As part of the exploration, the collaboration may include integrating Waymo’s technology into Toyota vehicles, including for ride-hailing and personally owned applications.