Advancing autonomous driving
Toyota Motor Corporation and Waymo have signed a preliminary agreement to explore a collaboration on accelerating the development and deployment of autonomous driving technologies.
Woven by Toyota will also join the potential collaboration as Toyota’s strategic enabler, contributing its strengths in advanced software and mobility innovation.
Driving the partnership is a shared vision of improving road safety and delivering increased mobility for all as Toyota and Waymo aim to combine their respective strengths to develop a new autonomous vehicle platform.
In parallel, the companies will explore how to leverage Waymo’s autonomous technology and Toyota’s vehicle expertise to enhance next-generation personally owned vehicles.
The companies also plan to further accelerate the development and adoption of driver assistance and automated driving technologies for personal vehicles, with a continued focus on safety.
Waymo, a global leader in autonomous driving technology, serves more than a quarter of a million trips each week in the United States across the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Austin.
With tens of millions of kilometres travelled, Waymo says data shows it is making roads safer where it operates, including being involved in 81 per cent fewer injury-causing crashes compared to a human benchmark.
Hiroki Nakajima, Toyota executive vice-president, says: “Toyota is committed to realising a society with zero traffic accidents and becoming a mobility company that delivers mobility for all.
“We share a strong sense of purpose and a common vision with Waymo in advancing safety through automated driving technology, and we are confident this collaboration can help bring our solutions to more people around the world, moving us one step closer to a zero-accident society.”
Tekedra Mawakana, co-chief executive officer at Waymo, adds his company’s mission is to be the world’s most trusted driver.
“This requires global partners like Toyota that share our commitment to improving road safety and expanding accessible transportation.
“We look forward to exploring this strategic partnership, incorporating their vehicles into our ride-hailing fleet and bringing the magic of Waymo's autonomous driving technology to Toyota customers.”
