Waymo to Launch London Robotaxi Service in 2026
▼ Summary
– Waymo will launch a commercial robotaxi service in London in 2026, marking its second international expansion after Tokyo.
– The company will begin testing its all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles on London’s public roads soon, starting with human safety drivers before progressing to driverless operations.
– Waymo’s 2026 service launch depends on the U.K. government finalizing its approval process for autonomous vehicle operations.
– The company plans to partner with Moove to manage fleet operations in London, similar to its existing partnership in Phoenix.
– Waymo has expanded its testing and commercial services to multiple U.S. cities including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, with plans for Miami, Nashville, and Washington DC.
Waymo has officially confirmed plans to introduce a commercial robotaxi service in London starting in 2026, marking a major step in its global expansion strategy. This move represents the company’s second international market entry after Tokyo and follows recent speculation fueled by job listings in the London area.
The company maintains existing connections to the United Kingdom through its 2019 acquisition of Latent Logic, an Oxford University spin-off specializing in imitation learning for autonomous vehicle simulations. As part of that acquisition, Waymo established an engineering center in Oxford that continues to support its technological development.
In a recent announcement, Waymo revealed that its fleet of all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles equipped with autonomous technology will begin operating on London streets within weeks. The company will follow its established deployment model, beginning with human safety drivers present in the vehicles before progressing to fully driverless testing. Eventually, the service will open to public riders through a hailing system similar to those operating in Phoenix and San Francisco.
While specific timelines for removing safety drivers remain undisclosed, along with details about the initial fleet size, company spokesperson Ethan Teicher confirmed that public self-driving services are scheduled to begin next year. The actual launch of the commercial robotaxi service in 2026 remains contingent upon final regulatory approval from UK authorities.
Waymo continues to leverage partnerships to manage the operational aspects of its autonomous services. In London, the company plans to collaborate with Moove, which already handles its autonomous vehicle operations in Phoenix. This partnership approach mirrors arrangements in other markets like Austin and Atlanta, where Uber manages fleet maintenance, charging, cleaning, and app-based access while Waymo focuses on the autonomous technology, roadside assistance, and rider support systems.
The London expansion comes as Waymo accelerates its testing and commercial deployment efforts across multiple markets. Beyond its original Phoenix operations, the company has expanded to several US cities including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. Additional commercial robotaxi services are planned for Miami, Nashville, and Washington DC as the company continues to broaden its geographic footprint.
(Source: TechCrunch)
