🔗 Share this article

The US-based enterprise Waymo has announced that its driverless taxis will be on offer for hire on London's roads starting next year.

UK Capital Named as Pioneering European City for Self-Driving Cab Service.

London will become the inaugural European city to host an driverless taxi service, similar to those already in use in multiple US cities and several American locations utilizing Waymo's innovative systems.

First Operations to Begin with Human Specialists.

Waymo announced that its vehicles are presently heading to London and will start navigating on the city's public roads in the near future with experienced operators in control.

The company – originally established as a offshoot from Google's autonomous vehicle project and part of the same parent group – explained it would scale up services and partner with the government transport body and Transport for London to obtain the required approvals to deliver completely driverless trips by 2026.

Expanding Interest in Self-Driving Mobility Across London.

Further firms, such as Uber and the British tech company Wayve, have also declared their own strategies to pilot driverless vehicles in the capital next year.

This comes after the UK authorities stating it would fast-track regulations permitting real-world tests to take place before laws supporting driverless transport is enacted in full.

“It is exciting that Waymo intends to launch their services to London next year, under our suggested testing initiative,” said the transport secretary, the secretary.

“Supporting the autonomous vehicle sector will improve available mobility choices in addition to generating jobs, capital, and opportunities to the UK. Innovative funding like this will help us deliver our mission to be world leaders in new technology and spearhead national renewal.”

Full Rollout Anticipated After New Legislation Takes Effect.

A fuller rollout of driverless taxis is expected in the UK after the related legislation fully takes effect in late 2027.

The Company's Existing Ties in the UK and Internationally.

Waymo already has connections to Britain after launching its first European engineering hub in Oxford in 2019.

The company is additionally launching offerings in Tokyo using Jaguar Land Rover electric vehicles, marking its sole additional current project outside the US.

“We've demonstrated how to effectively grow fully autonomous taxi services, and we can’t wait to bring the advantages of our technology to the Britain,” remarked Tekedra Mawakana, noting that the system was “making roads safer and travel more available”.

Demonstrated Experience in the United States.

Waymo launched its autonomous vehicles in 2020 and now claims it has transported more than 10 million riders in the US.

Despite some concerning incidents, Waymo indicated that statistics demonstrated that cars driven by people were linked to crashes that injured people on foot at a much higher rate than its driverless fleet.