Waymo Begins European Expansion, First Stop- London
The initial fleet will begin operations in the coming weeks, with human safety drivers on board.
Waymo is set to launch its robotaxi service in London, marking the company’s first European city rollout.
The initial fleet will begin operations in the coming weeks, with human safety drivers onboard, while fully driverless rides are planned for 2026 in collaboration with the Department for Transport and Transport for London.
Earlier this year, it began testing its cars with a human on board in New York.
Waymo, widely regarded as the world’s leading robotaxi service, currently operates 1,500 self-driving cars across U.S. cities including Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Austin.
In July, it reached a monumental milestone—100 million miles driven autonomously on public roads, equivalent to more than 200 round-trips to the Moon.
Its first international foray was through testing in Tokyo, and the London launch signals a major step in its global expansion.
“Waymo is making roads safer and transportation more accessible where we operate,” said CEO Tekedra Mawakana. “We’ve demonstrated how to responsibly scale fully autonomous ride-hailing, and we can’t wait to expand the benefits of our technology to the United Kingdom.”
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander welcomed the move, noting that autonomous vehicles could enhance accessibility, create jobs, and attract investment.
“Cutting-edge investment like this will help deliver our mission to be world-leaders in new technology and spearhead national renewal that delivers real change in our communities,” she said.
With London as its first European testbed, Waymo aims to prove that fully autonomous ride-hailing can be safe, scalable, and transformative for urban mobility.
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