Image: Waymo
Waymo has announced plans to launch its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in London in 2026, marking its second international market after initial testing in Tokyo. The Alphabet-owned company says the launch will expand its growing global footprint and bring its driverless technology to one of the world’s most complex urban transportation networks.
“We’re thrilled to bring the reliability, safety and magic of Waymo to Londoners,” said Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana. “Waymo is making roads safer and transportation more accessible where we operate. 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 United Kingdom.”
Over the coming months, Waymo will lay the groundwork for its London launch in collaboration with fleet operations partner Moove. The company said it will also engage with local and national leaders to secure the necessary permissions for its commercial ride-hailing service. In the U.S., the Waymo Driver system has already logged over 100 million fully autonomous miles on public roads and provided more than ten million paid rides.
Image: Waymo
The company currently operates its driverless fleet in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and San Francisco. Waymo also plans to bring its autonomous service to Dallas next year, while recently becoming the first company approved to test robotaxis in New York City — though that approval currently only allows for controlled testing. Last month, Waymo also introduced “Waymo for Business,” a new service designed to bring autonomous ride-hailing directly to organizations.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander welcomed the announcement, saying, “I’m delighted that Waymo intends to bring their services to London next year, under our proposed piloting scheme. Boosting the AV sector will increase accessible transport options alongside bringing jobs, investment, and opportunities to the UK. Cutting edge investment like this will help us deliver our mission to be world-leaders in new technology and spearhead national renewal that delivers real change in our communities.”
Safety advocates have also praised Waymo’s arrival. “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. Rolling out autonomous vehicles in a progressive yet measured way will be the best approach. The road safety profession and wider society should embrace it.”
Waymo’s UK expansion also extends its collaboration with Jaguar Land Rover, whose all-electric I-PACE vehicles serve as the foundation for its autonomous fleet. The move comes as part of a broader effort to integrate driverless transportation into London’s diverse mobility ecosystem alongside public transit, bikes, and pedestrian infrastructure.
