Robotaxi cruise service will be launched in Japan in early 2026

Cruise is going to become one of the first companies in the field of autonomous driving technology, providing robotaxi services on several continents.

The California-based company announced this week plans to launch robotaxi services in Japan in early 2020, using the Cruise Origin shuttle, first introduced as a concept in 2026.

Initially, the service will operate in the center of Tokyo, and later it will be extended to other regions. According to Cruz, testing of the prototype in Japan is expected to begin next year pending regulatory approval.

The Robotaxi Cruise service was launched in early 2022 in San Francisco, where the company is headquartered, and quickly expanded to Austin and Phoenix later that year. It is expected to expand to Houston and Dallas later this year.

The current service still relies on the Chevrolet Bolt Ev. The service is also limited by the time allotted for driving and routes that minimize dangerous operations, such as entering a traffic jam.

To provide services in Japan, Cruise plans to create a local joint venture together with major investors General Motors and Honda. Initially, Cruise stated that it planned to supply 500 origin shuttles to the joint venture. The shuttle, based on GM Ultium EV technology and designed to carry up to 6 passengers, will be built by GM at its Factory Zero plant near Detroit.

Cruz said that the cities of Japan are densely populated and are ideal for robotaxi services. The company also stated that Japan is experiencing a "significant and growing social" need for robotaxi services as it faces a shortage of drivers.