Uber's Tokyo Robotaxi Pilot: How a Licensed Taxi Operator Makes It Work Under Japanese Law

The partnership agreement assigns clear responsibilities:

• Hinomaru Kotsu serves as the authorized fleet operator, handling depot operations, vehicle cleaning, maintenance, inspections, charging, vehicle uptime, and all daily fleet management .
• Uber provides the ride-matching app, the operational technology platform, and manages rider services .

The pilot will use Nissan LEAF electric hatchbacks equipped with Wayve's "AI Driver" end-to-end autonomous driving technology . Wayve, which raised $1.2 billion in a prior funding round, integrates its AI-powered self-driving software into the Nissan LEAF, which riders will be able to hail through the Uber app . The pilot is part of Wayve and Uber's planned global robotaxi rollout across 10+ cities, including London .

Regulatory Requirement: Why a Licensed Taxi Operator Is Mandatory

The partnership structure is not a strategic choice — it is a legal requirement. Under Japan's Road Transport Law, only a licensed taxi operator with a Second-Type Driver's License can legally operate a commercial passenger transport service . Uber, as a technology platform, cannot directly operate robotaxis in Japan. It must partner with an authorized taxi company like Hinomaru Kotsu, which acts as the legally responsible operator . The pilot is designed to comply with all domestic regulations and licensing requirements .

The March 2026 Three-Way Agreement: Uber, Nissan, Wayve

On March 12, 2026, Uber, Nissan Motor, and Wayve signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on developing and piloting a robotaxi service in Tokyo . This was Uber's first autonomous vehicle partnership in Japan . Under the arrangement:

• Nissan supplies the vehicles — Nissan LEAF electric hatchbacks .
• Wayve provides its end-to-end AI-driven autonomous driving technology (the "AI Driver") integrated into the Nissan LEAFs .
• The pilot is part of Wayve and Uber's planned global robotaxi rollout across 10+ cities, including London .

Safety Operators: The Path to Full Driverless

In the initial phase, Hinomaru Kotsu drivers will serve as safety operators behind the wheel . The Impress Watch report, citing the official announcement, notes that this allows the system to be tested and validated in real Tokyo traffic, with safety as the highest priority . The pilot is designed to prepare for fully driverless operations, subject to regulatory approval .

Dara Khosrowshahi's Comments and 15-City Target

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi has described Japan as a "terrific" market and a country with "great potential" for robotaxis . In early August 2026, Khosrowshahi stated Uber's goal of offering autonomous ride-hailing in 15 cities by the end of 2026 . He also announced Uber plans to commit over $10 billion in capital over the coming years to bring autonomous vehicles to market at scale . The Financial Times reported that this investment is targeted at deploying 120,000 driverless vehicles, with Khosrowshahi saying the record cash haul would help Uber become the "long-term winner in AVs" .

Uber's Multi-Provider AV Strategy

Uber's strategy is explicitly AV-agnostic: it partners with multiple autonomous vehicle technology providers globally rather than betting on a single system. This includes Wayve in Japan and the UK, Waymo in the US, plus partnerships with other AV developers such as Rivian to deploy up to 50,000 fully autonomous robotaxis . Khosrowshahi has framed this as Uber becoming the "leading network" for autonomous ride-hailing, benefiting from its 200+ million customers and investing $10 billion to scale across many AV partners . The Tokyo pilot is the latest example of this multi-provider, multi-city approach.

Key Takeaways

• Licensed operator is mandatory: Japan's Road Transport Law requires a licensed taxi company to operate any commercial passenger service — Uber cannot run robotaxis directly.
• Three-way tech stack: Nissan supplies the LEAF EVs, Wayve provides the AI Driver software, and Uber offers the ride-hailing platform.
• Safety-first rollout: Hinomaru Kotsu drivers will be on board as safety operators initially, with fully driverless operations planned subject to regulatory approval.
• $10 billion commitment: Uber plans to invest over $10 billion to deploy autonomous vehicles at scale, targeting 15 cities by end of 2026.
• Multi-provider strategy: Uber works with multiple AV technology partners globally, not just one system.