Waymo is preparing to launch its robotaxi service on the global market
Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has announced plans to launch its self-driving taxi service outside the U.S. The company will begin its global expansion in the United Kingdom, The Verge reports.
In the coming weeks, test vehicles with driver instructors will begin operating on the streets of London, collecting data to fine-tune the system for local conditions. The commercial launch of the service is planned for spring 2026, after the UK government officially approves the pilot of driverless taxi services. Full deployment is expected in 2027, when the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 comes into force.
Waymo's fleet in London will be operated by Moove, which already operates in Phoenix and Austin, and will soon launch in Miami. The cars will be available to order through the Waymo app.
Waymo’s interest in the UK market is no coincidence. Back in 2019, the company acquired Latent Logic, a startup that emerged from Oxford University and focused on simulations for autonomous vehicles. Today, Waymo has engineering centers in London and Oxford, working on simulation systems to improve self-driving technologies.
London will be the first European capital where Waymo will launch a commercial service, although the company has previously conducted a small test in Tokyo. At the same time, the competition will be serious: Uber is working with British startup Wayve, which also plans to test driverless cars in the city next year.
Waymo says its strategy is to develop technology that, after tens of millions of miles in key US cities like San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles, can quickly adapt to new markets. London will be a key test of that ambition and a major step in the company's global expansion.