TOKYO, April 10 (Reuters) - Alphabet's

self-driving unit Waymo said on Thursday it will start

collecting data in Tokyo with test rides operated by human

drivers next week, marking the first time the company will be

using its cars on public roads outside the United States.

The California-based autonomous driving company will deploy

25 driver-operated electric Jaguar I-PACE to map key areas of

the Japanese capital and gain insights into local infrastructure

and driving patterns.

"It's important for us to understand the difference in

driving environment, what makes the driving here unique," Nicole

Gavel, Waymo's head of business development and strategic

partnerships, told reporters at an event in Tokyo.

The company is conducting the testing and servicing of the

vehicles in cooperation with Japanese taxi firm Nihon Kotsu and

Go, which operates a mobile app for hailing taxi rides and is

partly owned by Nihon Kotsu.

After completing the initial mapping phase, Waymo aims to

advance to autonomous driving tests with a driver behind the

wheel as a next step, Gavel said, declining to say by when the

company hopes to complete the initial phase.

"We're just starting with the testing so that's where we're

focused," she said. "Longer term, obviously, we would love to

have a business here in Tokyo."

Waymo said its initial testing will be conducted in seven

Tokyo wards, including Minato and Shibuya.