Waymo plans London AV service in 2026

San Francisco-based autonomous vehicle pioneer Waymo has announced plans to launch a ride-hailing service– with no human behind the wheel of the car– in 2026. The fleet of self-driving taxis will be available for hire via the Waymo app. The company runs robotaxis in five US cities, and says it has already driven over one hundred million fully autonomous miles on public roads and provided more than ten million paid rides.

In a statement Wayno said it will spend the coming months laying the groundwork for the new commercial service, which will be available initially in London, in consultation with national and local authorities.

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 UK.”

Waymo says its data shows cars equipped with its technology are involved in five times fewer injury-causing collisions, and twelve times fewer injury-causing collisions with pedestrians compared to humans.

The push to run a London service follows from Waymo’s investment in international engineering hubs in the UK, in London and Oxford, which are developing its large-scale, closed-loop simulation technology. In addition, the company has a partnership with Jaguar Land Rover, using the manufacturer’s all-electric I-PACEs outfitted with the Waymo Driver for autonomous rides in the US and Tokyo.

Reaction

“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. “Boosting the AV sector will increase accessible transport options alongside bringing jobs, investment, and opportunities to the UK.”

The move has also been welcomed by disability campaigners and road safety experts.Robin Spinks, Head of Inclusive Design at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), said: “As someone who’s been severely sight impaired since birth, I’ve long hoped for the day when technology can safely enable spontaneous autonomous travel. Autonomous vehicles systems should be accessible to everyone and we’re working with the community and our industry partners to ensure that the rollout of this technology prioritises the safety and diverse needs of riders and pedestrians.”

“Autonomous vehicles, such as Waymo, hold the potential to significantly improve road safety because, quite simply, the human driver is removed,” said James Gibson, Executive Director of Road Safety GB. “The data shows that the Waymo vehicles have performed far safer compared to human drivers across more than 100 million autonomous miles. The road safety profession and wider society should embrace it.”