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 company, a spin-off from Google's self-driving car programme, will initially deploy cars with human safety drivers in the coming weeks, with fully autonomous rides expected in 2026 pending permits from Transport for London and the Department for Transport.
The move pits Waymo's 'robotaxis' against London's iconic black cabs, which date back to the Tudor era. Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, dismissed the service as a 'fairground ride', citing incidents in San Francisco where vehicles became confused and blocked junctions. He questioned the technology's reliability on London's irregular road system and suggested there was no public demand for driverless cars.
Waymo's co-chief executive, Tekedra Mawakana, said the technology was 'making roads safer and transportation more accessible'. The company claims its autonomous vehicles are involved in 12 times fewer pedestrian injury incidents than human-driven cars. Waymo has amassed a fleet of over 2,000 driverless vehicles and completed more than 10 million passenger trips in US cities including San Francisco, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Atlanta.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander welcomed the announcement, stating it would 'boost the AV sector' and bring 'jobs, investment and opportunities to the UK'. A fuller rollout of self-driving taxis is expected after the Automated Vehicles Act takes full effect in late 2027. Uber and UK firm Wayve have also announced plans to trial driverless taxis in London next year.
