07:13 09-12-2025

Waymo starts London robotaxi trials, eyes 2026 service launch

Waymo begins robotaxi tests in London, aiming to launch a commercial service by 2026. The expansion follows Tokyo and may include Toronto as the next market.

Waymo has officially announced it is beginning tests in London — a clear marker of how quickly the company is pushing to scale its robotaxi service beyond the United States. In effect, London becomes Waymo’s second international foothold after Tokyo, where driverless rides are moving from staged demos to real streets.

The standout element here is pace. According to the announcement, the company is aiming to launch a robotaxi service in the British capital as soon as 2026. For a market where regulation, infrastructure, and traffic behavior differ markedly from the U.S., that timeline reads as an accelerated rollout strategy: start with cautious trials, then shift decisively toward a commercial model.

The map may soon expand further. Toronto is mentioned as the next potential destination “on the table,” suggesting Waymo is assembling a shortlist of cities where it can repeat the same playbook — from pilots to everyday rides.

If the 2026 target holds, London’s launch would be more than a symbolic entry. It would serve as a practical exam of how mature autonomous driving has become in a complex urban setting, and a litmus test for how quickly a major city can tune its rules to accommodate driverless transport. Judging by the chosen timeline, the company clearly expects both technology and policy to meet each other halfway.