Waymo speeds up London launch amid US probe

Waymo is advancing its preparations for a UK rollout after its driverless vehicles were recently seen on the streets of London.

The self-driving vehicle firm has confirmed it is testing its robotaxis in the capital ahead of a planned passenger launch this year, marking its second international market after Japan.

This move comes as Waymo expands its paid, fully driverless ride-hailing service in the US, most recently launching in Miami. The Miami rollout makes Waymo the first operator to run commercial robotaxis in six US cities. The service is initially limited to a 60-square mile area and is supported by fleet operations partner Moove, which manages the charging and cleaning of the vehicles. Close to 10,000 Miami residents have already signed up to use the service, which has been rolled out on an invitation basis.

Waymo’s push into London comes as US regulators examine incidents in Austin, Texas, where its vehicles were found to have illegally passed stopped school buses. The National Transportation Safety Board, as well as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, have opened probes. Waymo responded by rolling out a software update across more than 3,000 vehicles to address the issue, without taking the cars off the road. The company stated no collisions occurred and claimed its autonomous system still performs better than human drivers, though officials in Austin have called for tighter restrictions.

The investigation is likely to sharpen attention in the UK, where the sighting of Waymo’s vehicles in London has demonstrated how close the firm is to a commercial launch. Government ministers have backed autonomous vehicle trials as a way to improve transport accessibility and attract investment.

Waymo has logged over 100 million miles and completed around 14 million paid rides globally, giving it a clear lead in commercial robotaxis. However, as it moves closer to London’s streets, the outcome of US safety probes may play a decisive role in shaping regulatory confidence in its British debut.