On the Dash:
- Waymo will launch robotaxi services in London, marking its European debut, with commercial operations expected next year.
- The company will partner with Moove to operate and maintain its all-electric Jaguar iPACE fleet.
- Waymo’s technology aims to support London’s Vision Zero initiative by reducing collisions and pedestrian incidents compared to human drivers.
Alphabet’s Waymo is planning to expand its robotaxi services in London, marking its debut entry into the European market. The company announced on Wednesday that it will start testing the vehicles on London’s roads in the coming months, with full commercial operations slated to begin next year, pending approval from safety regulators.
Waymo will partner with Moove, which will oversee operations and maintenance for the company’s all-electric Jaguar iPACE fleet.
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The upcoming London launch follows Waymo’s recent international expansion to Tokyo, where testing began earlier this year. The company is aggressively expanding its foothold in the ride-hailing market and currently operates in Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Austin, Texas. Within the coming years, it will also plan to expand to Miami, Washington, D.C. and New York City.
The UK’s Department for Transport (DfT) announced in June that it will permit autonomous vehicle testing on public roads through limited pilot programs beginning in spring 2026, accelerating its original 2027 timeline.
London’s “Vision Zero” initiative, aimed at eliminating roadway deaths and injuries by 2041, aligns with Waymo’s safety data. The company reports that its autonomous technology has been involved in five times fewer injury-causing collisions and 12 times fewer pedestrian incidents than human drivers.
