Driverless taxis could hit UK roads as early as September, Waymo says

Driverless taxis could begin operating in the UK as soon as September, according to Waymo, the US self-driving car firm owned by Alphabet.

Waymo said it plans to launch a pilot robotaxi service in London in April, with the ambition of carrying paying passengers later in the year once regulations allow. The UK government has said it intends to introduce new rules in the second half of 2026 to permit fully autonomous taxi services, though it has yet to confirm a specific start date.

Local transport minister Lilian Greenwood said the government was actively supporting trials.

“We’re supporting Waymo and other operators through our passenger pilots, and pro-innovation regulations to make self-driving cars a reality on British roads,” she said.

Waymo showcased a fleet of its autonomous vehicles at London’s Transport Museum this week. The cars are currently being driven by safety drivers while mapping London’s streets, but when the service opens to the public there will be no human behind the wheel.

Greenwood said autonomous vehicles had the potential to improve road safety. “Unlike human drivers, automated vehicles don’t get tired, don’t get distracted and don’t drive under the influence,” she said, adding that strict standards would still apply, including safeguards against hacking and cyber threats.

The government estimates the autonomous vehicle sector could add £42bn to the UK economy by 2035 and create close to 40,000 jobs.

Waymo’s robotaxis will be hailed via an app, although the initial service will not include airport drop-offs. The company said pricing would be “competitive but premium”, with fares rising during peak demand.

Waymo vehicles use a combination of lidar, cameras, radar and microphones to build a 360-degree view of their surroundings, with the firm claiming they can detect hazards up to three football fields away, even in poor weather. A high-powered computer processes the data in real time to control the vehicle’s movements.

Waymo’s UK plans come amid growing competition. Uber and Lyft have also signalled they are ready to launch robotaxi services once UK regulations change, both partnering with Chinese technology firm Baidu.

Waymo says its vehicles have driven more than 173 million miles fully autonomously, primarily in the US, where it already operates around 1,000 robotaxis in San Francisco and 700 in Los Angeles. However, isolated reports have emerged of technical glitches, including rare cases where passengers were temporarily unable to exit vehicles.

If approved, a London launch would mark one of the most significant steps yet in bringing large-scale autonomous transport to UK roads.