Uber Japan has signed an operational partnership agreement with taxi company Hinomaru Kotsu to support a robotaxi pilot in Tokyo scheduled to launch in late 2026.

Under the deal, Hinomaru Kotsu will manage day-to-day fleet operations for the pilot, including depot operations, vehicle cleaning, maintenance, inspections, charging and uptime.

Uber will make the rides available through its app.

The Tokyo pilot follows a memorandum of understanding signed in March 2026 by Uber, Wayve and Nissan Motor to develop a robotaxi service in Japan using Nissan Leaf vehicles equipped with Wayve’s AI Driver technology.

Under Japanese regulations, passenger transport services are to be operated by licensed taxi companies.

Hinomaru Kotsu will serve as the authorised operator, while Uber will provide its matching platform and operational support tools.

In the initial phase, Hinomaru Kotsu drivers will be on board as safety operators behind the wheel before any transition to fully driverless services, which would be subject to regulatory approval.

Uber global head of autonomous mobility & delivery Sarfraz Maredia said: “Japan’s capital features one of the most complex driving environments in the world. Hinomaru Kotsu’s extensive operational experience and rigorous safety standards, as well as Nissan's exceptional automotive engineering and Wayve’s advanced AI technology, are vital to the success of this project.”

Hinomaru Kotsu president and representative director Kazutaka Tomita said: “As we address the pressing societal challenge of driver shortages, we are committed to building a sustainable mobility service that everyone can rely on with confidence—one where people and technology complement and enhance each other.”

The Tokyo announcement comes as Uber and Wayve deepen their autonomous vehicle partnerships globally.

In June, Stellantis, Wayve and Uber signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to explore the development and deployment of Level 4 robotaxi services at scale.

The agreement combines Stellantis’ vehicle manufacturing platforms, Wayve’s AI-based autonomous driving software and Uber’s mobility network, with the companies planning to collaborate on vehicle integration, testing, validation and deployment across markets in Europe, North America and other regions.