Driverless taxis from Waymo will be on London's roads next year, US firm announces

"Waymo said its cars were now on their way to London and would start driving on the capital's streets in the coming weeks with trained human specialists, or safety drivers, behind the wheel. The company originally formed as a spin-off from Google's self-driving car programme and part of the same parent group, Alphabet said it would scale up operations and work closely with the Department for Transport and Transport for London to obtain the necessary permissions to offer fully autonomous rides in 2026."

"Uber and the UK tech company Wayve have also announced their own plans to trial their driverless taxis in the capital next year, after the British government said it would accelerate rules allowing public trials to take place before legislation enabling self-driving vehicles passes in full. The transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: I'm delighted that Waymo intends to bring their services to London next year, under our proposed piloting scheme."

"A fuller rollout of self-driving taxis is expected in the UK after the Automated Vehicles Act fully takes effect in late 2027. Waymo already has ties to Britain after opening its first European engineering hub in Oxford in 2019. It is also launching services in Tokyo using Jaguar Land Rover electric vehicles, its only other current venture outside the US."

Waymo will deploy driverless taxis to London, starting with vehicles arriving and operating with trained safety drivers later in 2025. The company plans to scale up and work with the Department for Transport and Transport for London to secure permissions for fully autonomous rides in 2026. Uber and UK firm Wayve will also trial driverless taxis under a government-accelerated piloting scheme. The transport secretary said the pilots will boost accessible transport, jobs, investment and national technology leadership. A fuller rollout is expected after the Automated Vehicles Act takes full effect in late 2027. Waymo already operates an Oxford engineering hub and is launching services in Tokyo.

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