US EditionWaymo Plans Fully Driverless Robotaxi Service in London by Late 2026
The NHTSA is investigating whether Waymo’s driverless vehicle followed safety protocols after striking a child near a Santa Monica elementary school during morning drop-off hours.
- This year, Waymo intends to launch a fully driverless ride-hailing service in London by the fourth quarter of 2026, Ben Loewenstein, Waymo's head of policy and government affairs for the UK and Europe, revealed.
- The UK government plans to change rules in the second half of 2026 to allow driverless taxis and supports Waymo through passenger pilots and pro-innovation regulations, Lilian Greenwood said.
- Waymo is mapping London streets with safety drivers during the mapping and data collection phase, using four sensor systems and an onboard computer; an April pilot will let passengers hail robotaxis via the Waymo app once rules permit, excluding airport drop-offs.
- Officials estimate the sector could add �42 billion and create over 2,500 jobs by 2035, as Waymo's entry will intensify UK competition, including with Uber-backed startup Wayve and local partner Moove.
- So far, Waymo has driven 173 million miles fully autonomously and logged 14 million paid Robotaxi rides in 2025, though service disruptions and recalls have increased sanctions of scrutiny.
43 Articles
43 Articles
US opens probe after Waymo self-driving vehicle hits child near school
WASHINGTON — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday it is opening an investigation after a Waymo self-driving vehicle struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, California last week, causing minor injuries. The auto safety agency said the child ran across the street on January 23 from behind a double parked SUV towards the school and was struck by the Alphabet-unit Waymo autonomous vehicle during normal s…
Waymo robotaxi hits child at school drop-off, triggering safety inquiry
By Ian Duncan and Lisa Bonos, The Washington Post A Waymo autonomous vehicle hit a child near a Santa Monica elementary school last week, the company and federal regulators said Thursday. The crash happened during the school’s drop-off time on Jan. 23. The child ran into the street from behind a double-parked SUV, officials said. The Waymo detected the child and braked, slowing itself to 6 mph before impact, the company said in a blog post outli…
Waymo's driverless Robotaxi hit and slightly injured a child in California. According to the company, the child was covered by a high SUV before it ran into the road in front of the self-driving car. However, the Google sister company estimates that the software was more capable of braking the car than a human being. The car lowered the speed to less than 6 miles per hour in a full-brake of around 17 miles per hour – from a good 27 km/h to less …
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