Waymo’s driverless taxis gear up for London debut
Waymo is getting closer to putting fully driverless taxis on London’s streets, with the US company hoping to carry paying passengers as early as September this year, pending government approval.
About two dozen Waymo vehicles are already circulating across parts of the capital, though for now they’re still being driven by humans. This phase is all about learning the city’s rhythms — from busy junctions to distinctly British features like zebra crossings. As one Waymo executive put it, the cars are being trained to “learn the nuances”.
The plan is being rolled out in stages. After mapping and data collection, Waymo will move to trials with a safety driver behind the wheel. The final step will see cars operating with no human driver at all. Airport drop-offs won’t be part of the initial service.
The government has made it clear that it wants to welcome the technology, but not rush it. New rules enabling driverless taxis are expected in the second half of 2026, while a passenger pilot scheme is due to launch this spring. Local transport minister Lilian Greenwood 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.”
She also stressed the safety pitch behind automation, saying: “We know that unlike human drivers, automated vehicles don't get tired, don't get distracted and don't drive under the influence,” while warning that strict standards would apply, “including protection from hacking and cyber threats”.
Waymo says its cars rely on a mix of cameras, radar, lidar and microphones, feeding data into an onboard computer that reacts in real time. The company argues this setup gives its vehicles a “superhuman level of perception” and a better field of view than people behind the wheel.
Still, London presents a different challenge from the US cities where Waymo already operates, such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. Pedestrian behaviour, dense streets and informal eye contact at crossings all test the system in new ways. Waymo insists it’s ready. “We see a lot of jaywalkers in San Francisco,” Teicher said, adding that adapting to local habits is part of every rollout.
The rollout will start small. Waymo says it will be “a drop in the bucket” compared with the wider ride-hailing market, pushing back on concerns that robotaxis will clog up the roads. Rival firms including Uber, Lyft and British startup Wayve are also lining up to launch services once regulations allow.
Not everyone is convinced. London’s black-cab drivers have criticised the plans, with their trade body branding robotaxis a “fairground ride”. Transport for London has also flagged unanswered questions around safety, congestion and accessibility.
For now, Waymo’s cars remain in training mode. Whether they can truly master London’s streets without a human at the wheel should become clear sooner rather than later.
