Honda Motor Co. will launch a self-driving taxi service in Japan in early 2026, CEO Toshihiro Mibe said on Thursday. The Japanese automaker has been developing self-driving cars in partnership with General Motors and its subsidiary Cruise, which is already testing its self-driving taxis in four U.S. cities.
The car can carry six passengers in a cabin-like space. Toshihiro Mibe said the service will start in Tokyo and aims to expand to 500 vehicles.
Self-driving taxis could help solve a key problem facing Japan's taxi industry: a shortage of drivers. General Motors CEO Mary Barra has said that they also provide driving solutions for disabled people and the aging population.