Tokyo Establishes First Prefectural Police Autonomous Vehicle Division to Oversee Expanding Robotaxi Operations

Tokyo Metropolitan Police will launch a specialized Autonomous Driving Planning Division in April 2027, becoming the first prefectural police force in Japan to establish a dedicated unit overseeing self-driving vehicles. The new division, housed within the Traffic General Affairs Division, will process operational permits for autonomous vehicles and investigate accidents involving them—a critical infrastructure move as Level 4 robotaxis expand across the capital.