Waymo will launch its self-driving ride service in London by 2026, according to the autonomous vehicle company. The Google-backed firm becomes the latest major player planning to bring driverless cars to the UK capital.
The company already runs fully autonomous services without safety drivers in Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Waymo will partner with fleet operator Moove for the London launch, using Jaguar I-Pace electric vehicles equipped with the company’s Waymo Driver technology.
This puts Waymo in direct competition with Uber and Lyft – both planning their own autonomous launches in the UK next year.
Uber is working with London AI company Wayve, while Lyft has partnered with Chinese tech giant Baidu to expand into the UK and Germany.
London Gets “Magic of Autonomous Mobility”
“We’re thrilled to bring the reliability, safety and magic of Waymo to Londoners. 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.”
Tekedra Mawakana, Waymo’s co-CEO, announced the expansion plans this week.
Waymo is already working with UK regulators to get the necessary approvals under the government’s proposed pilot program for autonomous vehicles. The company has engineering teams in London and Oxford, plus long-standing research partnerships across the UK.
UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander welcomed the news as a boost for innovation and economic growth.
“I’m delighted that Waymo intends to bring their services to London next year,” she said. “Boosting the AV sector will increase accessible transport options while bringing jobs, investment and opportunities to the UK.”
Safety Groups Support Rollout
Autonomous vehicles have faced criticism worldwide after several high-profile incidents during early testing phases. But UK safety advocates are cautiously optimistic about Waymo’s track record.
James Gibson, executive director of Road Safety GB, pointed to the company’s safety data across more than 100 million autonomous miles.
“Autonomous vehicles, such as Waymo, hold the potential to significantly improve road safety because the human driver is removed,” Gibson said. “Waymo vehicles have shown far safer performance compared to human drivers.”
The London launch sets up what analysts expect to be an intense competition between ride-hailing companies racing to scale autonomous transport in one of Europe’s busiest cities.
Success will depend on several factors – public acceptance, competitive pricing, clear regulations and whether the vehicles can navigate London’s notoriously complex streets safely.
With multiple companies targeting 2026 for their UK launches, London could become one of Europe’s first major cities to see widespread deployment of driverless ride services.
That’s assuming regulators, operators and the public stay aligned on safety standards and economic benefits.
