Waymo to Launch Driverless Ride-Hailing in London by 2026
- Waymo plans to launch its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in London in 2026, with no human drivers in the vehicle.
- The company is partnering with fleet operator Moove and working with UK leaders to gain approval for commercial deployment.
Waymo has announced plans to roll out its fully autonomous ride service in London in 2026. Riders will be able to book rides through the Waymo app for cars with no human drivers behind the wheel. The company is partnering with fleet operator Moove and actively working with local and national government leaders to obtain the necessary permissions for commercial operations.
“I’m delighted that Waymo intends to bring their services to London next year, under our proposed piloting scheme,” said Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander, in an official news release. “Boosting the AV sector will increase accessible transport options alongside bringing jobs, investment, and opportunities to the UK. Cutting edge investment like this will help us deliver our mission to be world-leaders in new technology and spearhead national renewal that delivers real change in our communities.”
The company already operates in the UK, with engineering teams based in London and Oxford working on simulation systems for autonomous driving development. Waymo also partners with Jaguar Land Rover, deploying electric I-PACE vehicles equipped with its driver technology.
In the U.S., Waymo has logged more than 100 million fully autonomous miles and completed 10 million paid rides. The company reports lower rates of injury-causing crashes compared to human drivers in its latest safety data. Its driverless vehicles are also operating in Tokyo as part of its international expansion.
🌀 Tom’s Take:
UK marks another big move for Waymo as they continue to expand rapidly with new service areas across the U.S. and now worldwide.
Source: Waymo
