Prime Highlights
- Waymo will expand its commercial robotaxi service to London in 2026, marking its second international market after Tokyo.
- The company aims to bring autonomous mobility to U.K. streets by partnering locally and leveraging its global expertise.
Key Facts
- Waymo will begin testing self-driving Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in London with human safety drivers before launching driverless trials.
- The company acquired U.K.-based Latent Logic in 2019 and operates an engineering hub in Oxford focused on simulation and machine learning for autonomy.
Background
Alphabet-owned self-driving car company Waymo announced on Wednesday that it will offer a commercial robotaxi service in London in 2026, marking its second international expansion after Tokyo.
Waymo plans to deploy all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles equipped with self-driving technology on London streets in the coming weeks. Initially, human safety drivers will be behind the wheel for testing before driverless trials begin. The public will eventually be able to hail Waymo robotaxis, following the model used in Phoenix and San Francisco.
The timeline for fully removing human drivers and the size of the testing fleet have not been disclosed. Waymo confirmed that the commercial service for public riders is planned for 2026, pending approval from the U.K. government.
Waymo has experience in the U.K., having acquired Latent Logic, a startup from Oxford University, in 2019. The company also opened an engineering hub in Oxford to improve self-driving simulations with machine learning.
For fleet management, Waymo will partner with Moove, which already operates its vehicles in Phoenix. Similar partnerships in Austin and Atlanta with Uber handle charging, maintenance, cleaning, and ride access, while Waymo manages the technology, roadside support, and autonomous operations.
Over the past two years, Waymo has expanded testing and commercial operations beyond Phoenix to U.S. cities including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The company also plans to launch robotaxi services in Miami, Nashville, and Washington, DC.
The London launch shows Waymo’s growing goal to expand globally by using advanced self-driving technology and working with local partners for support.
