Filenews 3 February 2026
The American company Waymo plans to launch a driverless taxi service in London as early as September, ahead of changes to the UK regulatory framework that will allow autonomous vehicles to operate in urban environments.
The British government has announced that it intends to amend the regulations in the second half of 2026, but has not set a specific date. According to the BBC, Waymo expects to begin piloting in April, with the goal of transitioning to fully commercial service later this year.
Local Transport Secretary Lilian Greenwood said the government was supporting Waymo and other providers through pilot schemes and a pro-innovation regulatory framework to ensure autonomous vehicles could safely be integrated onto British roads. As she mentioned, autonomous vehicles do not get tired, do not get distracted and do not drive under the influence of alcohol, which – according to her – can significantly improve road safety.
At the same time, he underlined that their operation requires the observance of strict security standards, including protection against cyberattacks and hacking.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, recently unveiled the fleet of vehicles it has transported to the UK at the London Transport Museum. Vehicles are already moving on the streets of the city with safety drivers, who map the road network. When commercial operations begin, taxis will circulate without a person at the wheel.
Passengers will be able to call the robotaxi via an app, although initially routes to airports will not be included. The company says prices will be competitive but premium, with increases during periods of high demand.
Waymo's vehicles are based on four sensor systems – lidar, vision cameras, radar and microphones – that enable 360-degree perception and detection of objects at a great distance, even in bad weather conditions. The data is processed by a powerful computer located in the trunk and makes decisions in real time.
The government estimates that the autonomous vehicle industry could add £42 billion to the economy by 2035 and create nearly 40,000 new jobs.
In the United States, Waymo's vehicles have travelled 173 million miles fully autonomously, with a fleet of 1,000 robotaxis in San Francisco and 700 in Los Angeles. However, incidents of malfunctions have been recorded, such as during a major power outage in San Francisco, when dozens of vehicles were stranded on the roads, contributing to traffic jams.
Waymo is partnering with Jaguar for its fleet, while competitors such as Uber and Lyft are expected to launch similar services in the UK, in partnership with China's Baidu, as soon as the regulatory framework allows.
