Collaboration of Giants: Toyota and Waymo

On April 30, 2025, a strategic partnership between Toyota Motor Corporation and Waymo was announced, focused on the development of Level 4 autonomous vehicles.

Toyota, a global leader in vehicle production and a pioneer in safety innovation, and Waymo – a company originating from Google and a leader in autonomous software – have announced an initial collaboration agreement. A key enabler of this initiative is Woven by Toyota, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation responsible for the development of software, AI, and system infrastructure.

Common Goal?

For years, Toyota has been developing a “zero accidents” strategy based on the integration of three pillars: people, vehicles, and infrastructure. In December 2023, a blog post from Waymo highlighted data from over 7 million miles driven by Waymo’s autonomous vehicles in Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The results showed that Waymo vehicles had 85% fewer injury-causing accidents compared to human drivers. Additionally, the police-reported crash rate was 57% lower.

The executives at Toyota Motor Corporation must have recognized these results, which led to the idea of partnership. The goal is to accelerate the implementation of autonomous technologies in privately owned vehicles (POVs), with a simultaneous focus on eliminating traffic accidents.

Key Strengths of the Partnership:

Waymo’s software, tested on millions of miles in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin.
Toyota’s production scale and its advanced safety systems, such as Toyota Safety Sense.
Woven by Toyota as a bridge between advanced software and the quality demands of mass production.

In late April and early May 2025, Woven by Toyota announced several new initiatives aimed at strengthening the collaboration between Toyota and Waymo, as well as accelerating the development of advanced autonomous technologies. Among these initiatives are new investments in artificial intelligence and the expansion of infrastructure for autonomous vehicle connectivity, which will help speed up the global deployment of this technology. Furthermore, Woven will act as the coordinator between innovative solutions and the requirements of mass production, ensuring scalability and reliability to the highest industry standards.

Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota’s Executive Vice President, emphasizes the shared vision of “greater safety and peace of mind for all,” while Tekedra N. Mawakana, Co-CEO of Waymo, highlights their ambition to become “the most trusted driver in the world.”

Woven City – Testing Autonomous Technologies for Toyota

One of the most important elements of Toyota’s strategy is Woven City. This initiative serves as a testbed for future autonomous technologies and sustainable urban solutions. Located at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, Woven City is a unique “living laboratory” where modern transportation technologies, AI systems, and new urban management solutions are being tested. Woven City aims to integrate:

Autonomous vehicles – testing advanced autonomous driving systems in real-world urban conditions.
Robots and AI devices – including automated delivery systems that assist with everyday functions in the city.
Sustainable infrastructure – renewable energy, green technologies, electric vehicles, and traffic management systems designed to minimize the carbon footprint.

The partnership between Toyota and Waymo could set a new standard in autonomous vehicle design. It is also further proof that true innovations emerge where advanced technologies, global scale, and a shared vision for the future of mobility intersect.

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