Waymo, the US autonomous vehicle company, has announced plans to launch its driverless taxi service in London next year, making the UK capital the first European city to host such a service. The cars, equipped with human safety drivers, will begin driving on London's streets in the coming weeks, with fully autonomous rides expected in 2026 pending approval from Transport for London and the Department for Transport.
The move pits Waymo's technology against London's iconic black cabs, which have a history dating back to the Tudor era. Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, dismissed the service as a 'fairground ride', citing frequent breakdowns in San Francisco and questioning its reliability on London's irregular road system. He also expressed doubt about public demand for the technology.
Waymo, originally a spin-off from Google's self-driving car programme, has amassed a fleet of over 2,000 vehicles in the US, operating in cities including San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Atlanta. The company claims its autonomous vehicles are involved in incidents that injure pedestrians 12 times less often than human-driven cars.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander welcomed the announcement, stating that boosting the autonomous vehicle sector will increase accessible transport options and bring jobs and investment to the UK. Uber and UK tech company Wayve have also announced plans to trial driverless taxis in London next year, as the government accelerates rules for public trials ahead of the Automated Vehicles Act taking full effect in late 2027.
