US self-driving startup Nuro, which is backed by the likes of NVIDIA, Toyota and Uber, has began testing its autonomous autos on Tokyo's difficult streets, Bloomberg reported. The corporate, which plans to launch a robotaxi service with Uber and Lucid in San Francisco this 12 months, will probably be testing a "handful" of autos within the metropolis. Human security drivers will probably be on the wheel, as is required by Japanese legislation.
Tokyo presents a problem for autonomous autos, given its slim, crowded streets and left facet of the highway driving. "Testing the potential of the autonomy system in such an fascinating market with some worldwide complexity actually is an effective stress take a look at of what the system is able to," stated CEO Andrew Chapin. The corporate's final purpose is to attain Stage 4 autonomy, which permits full self-driving below restricted circumstances.
Waymo is the opposite main robotaxi operator testing autos in Tokyo in collaboration with Japanese taxi operators Nihon Kotsu and the nation's main taxi app, Go. It has been working within the nation since April 2025 in collaboration with Toyota.
Nuro has but to announce which operators or car producers it is going to be partnering with, however Chapin stated it could not restrict itself to autonomous rides. "A common autonomy platform that may be prolonged to numerous completely different purposes and type components is a bit completely different than the strategy Waymo is taking," he instructed Bloomberg. The corporate beforehand teamed with 7-Eleven on autonomous deliveries in Mountain View, California.
Uber plans to have as much as 100,000 autonomous autos together with 20,000 robotaxis powered by Lucid and Nuro, with a rollout beginning in 2027. It launched its new car design just lately at CES 2026. Uber can be collaborating with Nissan and Wayve with the intention to introduce pilot automobiles in Tokyo by late 2026.
This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/nvidia–and-uber-backed-nuro-is-testing-autonomous-vehicles-in-tokyo-081200366.html?src=rss