Google’s Waymo Brings Driverless Cars to London in 2026

TLDR

• Waymo will launch its driverless ride-hailing service in London in 2026, marking its first European market entry
• The company will begin testing Jaguar iPACE electric vehicles with human safety drivers in the coming months before starting fully autonomous operations
• Waymo currently operates commercial robotaxi services in five U.S. cities and provides over 250,000 paid trips weekly with approximately 1,500 vehicles
• The company partnered with vehicle financing firm Moove to manage fleet operations, maintenance, and charging infrastructure in London
• Waymo has driven 100 million fully autonomous miles on public roads and completed more than 10 million paid passenger rides to date

Alphabet’s Waymo plans to bring its autonomous ride-hailing service to London next year. This expansion marks the company’s first entry into the European market.

The robotaxi company announced Wednesday it will start testing vehicles on London roads in the coming months. Human safety specialists will operate the vehicles during initial testing phases.

Waymo aims to launch fully autonomous operations in 2026. The launch depends on securing approvals from local and national regulators.

London becomes Waymo’s second international destination after Tokyo. The company began testing in Japan’s capital in early 2025.

The expansion comes as Waymo grows its U.S. presence. The service currently operates commercially in five American cities: Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Austin.

Waymo also announced plans for future launches in Miami and Washington D.C. In August, the company received permits to test autonomous vehicles with safety drivers in New York City.

Fleet Operations and Partnerships

The London fleet will use Jaguar iPACE electric vehicles equipped with Waymo’s autonomous driving systems. Waymo already maintains engineering teams in Oxford and London.

Moove will handle fleet operations and maintenance for Waymo’s London vehicles. The vehicle financing company provides services including cleaning, repairs, and electric vehicle charging.

Moove works with multiple transportation companies including Uber. Uber invested in Moove and offers Waymo vehicles through its app in Atlanta and Austin.

The UK government announced an accelerated framework for autonomous vehicle pilots in June. This initiative aims to attract self-driving technology investments to the region.

London set a Vision Zero goal earlier this year. The city plans to eliminate all serious injuries and deaths in its transportation systems by 2041.

Current Operations and Safety Data

Waymo currently serves more than 250,000 paid trips weekly across U.S. markets. The company operates approximately 1,500 vehicles in its commercial fleet.

The company reports its vehicles have logged 100 million fully autonomous miles on public roads. Waymo has completed more than 10 million paid passenger rides.

According to Waymo’s analysis of its own data, the system is involved in five times fewer injury-causing collisions than human drivers. The company also reports twelve times fewer injury-causing collisions with pedestrians.

Waymo operates as part of Alphabet’s Other Bets segment. This division generated $373 million in revenue during the second quarter while posting a $1.25 billion loss.

UK startup Wayve previously announced plans for a London robotaxi pilot next year. While Waymo uses radar, lidar, and other sensors, Wayve develops camera-based systems similar to Tesla’s approach.

Waymo vehicles are currently en route to London, where safety drivers will begin testing before fully autonomous operations start in 2026.

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