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The US-based firm Waymo has announced that its autonomous taxis will be on offer for use on London's streets beginning next year.

London Becomes Leading European City for Autonomous Ride-Hailing.

London will be established as the inaugural European city to launch an autonomous taxi service, akin to those already operational in multiple US cities and four other American cities utilizing Waymo's cutting-edge systems.

Preliminary Trials to Begin with Trained Operators.

Waymo announced that its cars are presently traveling to London and will commence operating on the capital's streets in the coming weeks with trained human specialists behind the wheel.

The company – initially formed as a offshoot from the tech giant's autonomous vehicle project and belonging to the Alphabet family – stated it would expand services and partner with the government transport body and the city's mobility organization to acquire the necessary licenses to deliver completely driverless services by 2026.

Growing Interest in Self-Driving Mobility In London.

Additional companies, including Uber and the British technology firm Wayve, have also revealed their own plans to pilot driverless cabs in the city next year.

This follows the government officials confirming it would accelerate regulations permitting real-world tests to proceed before legislation supporting autonomous cars passes in full.

“I'm delighted that Waymo aims to introduce their technology to London next year, under our planned testing initiative,” stated the government minister, the secretary.

“Supporting the autonomous vehicle industry will enhance available mobility choices alongside generating work, capital, and possibilities to the UK. Cutting-edge funding like this will help us deliver our objective to be world leaders in new technology and drive national renewal.”

Complete Introduction Expected After Automated Vehicles Act Comes into Force.

A broader deployment of self-driving taxis is anticipated in the UK after the Automated Vehicles Act fully takes effect in late 2027.

The Company's Existing Ties in the United Kingdom and Beyond.

Waymo currently has ties to the UK after launching its inaugural European technical center in Oxford in 2019.

It is furthermore launching services in Tokyo using Jaguar Land Rover EVs, marking its only other existing operation outside the US.

“Evidence confirms how to safely expand totally self-driving transport solutions, and we can’t wait to extend the advantages of our systems to the UK,” stated Waymo's co-chief executive, noting that the technology was “improving road safety and mobility more inclusive”.

Proven History in the US.

Waymo launched its driverless taxis in 2020 and currently reports it has carried over a vast number of passengers in the US.

Regardless of some concerning incidents, Waymo stated that statistics revealed that cars controlled by people were involved in crashes that hurt pedestrians 12 times more often than its self-driving fleet.