Waymo has announced further details about its plans to launch a fully autonomous ride-hailing service – with no human behind the wheel – in London later this year.
Speaking at a launch event at London’s Transport Museum on Wednesday (28 January), Waymo said a pilot service will launch in April, with the plan to be fully operational to the public from as soon as September.
The dates will depend on the government, who has said it plans to change regulations in the second half of 2026 to enable driverless taxis to operate in the city but has not given a specific date.
Lilian Greenwood, local transport minister, said: “We’re supporting Waymo and other operators through our passenger pilots, and pro-innovation regulations to make self-driving cars a reality on British roads.”
The Waymo vehicle uses four sensor systems to gather data from the world around it: lidar, vision, radar and microphone.
The American organisation says these sensors enable its vehicles to be aware of its surroundings across 360 degrees, as far as three football fields ahead and during bad weather.
A computer in the boot processes that data and determines the car’s actions and reactions in real time.
Waymo’s vehicles are currently being operated by a safety driver, mapping the streets of London in preparation for the launch.
James Gibson, executive director of Road Safety GB, attended the launch event. He said: “It was fantastic to be invited to hear more about plans for the London launch and to see and sit in a vehicle. The evening gave me a greater understanding of how autonomous vehicles have the potential to improve road safety as well as bring independent mobility.
“Unlike a human the Waymo Driver will not be distracted, tired or impaired. The technology is extremely impressive, with the mix of sensor systems at the centre of the safety focused approach.”
In the US, the Waymo Driver has already driven over one hundred million fully autonomous miles on public roads and provided more than ten million paid rides.
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