Waymo’s robotic car is coming to London

Waymo is expanding to london, Self-driving vehicle The developer announced on Wednesday. Google’s sister company aims to launch the service next year. When the UK government plans To allow Autonomous vehicles To start working on its methods in limited pilot programs. Waymo says it is working with the government to obtain the necessary permissions to launch.

Just that WaymoHer second project outside the United States – although it may be her first international project com. robotaxi service. The company tested the robots in Tokyo Since AprilIt works with Japanese taxi company Nihon Kotsu, whose drivers help Waymo map and collect driving data from the city, and with Japanese ride-hailing company GO. But the company did not say when or if it plans to launch self-driving taxis in Japan.

London could pose the company’s biggest challenge yet. In contrast to the more car-oriented cities in the United States, London’s streets are more winding and narrow, and the city’s design is a legacy of pre-Roman and medieval history. “We will take the same rigorous approach to testing and deployment in London as we did in other cities before offering rides to the public,” Waymo spokesman Ethan Teicher wrote in an email. He says Waymo’s experience in Tokyo will help its software in London.

Waymo operates a paid taxi service in five US cities: Phoenix, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin and Atlanta. (You run the last two services through Uber app.) and has announced plans to launch in Dallas, Miami, Washington, D.C., and Nashville next year. It has also received a permit to test autonomous vehicles in New York City, although it must do so with a safe driver behind the wheel. The company says it has provided more than ten million paid rides since it welcomed its first customers in 2020.

Waymo’s move follows that of the UK government Announcement this spring It will accelerate by more than a year its plans to allow self-driving vehicle technology on public roads. The government now aims to start allowing robotaxis to operate in small numbers starting in 2026.

Government officials intend to spend about a year studying the data produced by these vehicles before allowing companies to launch self-driving taxi services on a larger scale in the second half of 2027. WIFI He has Already announced It will Working with Uber To operate automated taxis in London.

British Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said in a statement that she was “delighted” about Waymo’s plans. “Boosting the (self-driving vehicle) sector will increase accessible transport options as well as bringing jobs, investment and opportunity to the UK,” she said.

Waymo says it will work with fleet operations company Moove to operate the final London fleet. Moove will help manage and dispatch Waymo’s electric transportation vehicles, and will maintain and operate the service’s maintenance and charging depots. Moove is also working with Waymo in Phoenix, and eventually in Miami.