Driverless Taxis to be Introduced in London by 2026

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16 October 2025

Autonomous taxi service Waymo is set to arrive in London by 2026, marking the brand’s first move into Europe.

Waymo’s latest models operate using cameras, lidar, radar, and external audio receivers (EARs) to gain a field of view all around the vehicle, up to 500 meters away, day and night, and in a range of weather conditions.

The cars use detailed maps matched with real-time sensor data and artificial intelligence to determine their exact road location at all times. It also responds to temporary stop signs and traffic lights and uses AI to predict the behaviour of other road users.

Waymo says that it will work with various stakeholders over the coming months to gain the necessary permissions to operate in London.

Waymo’s self-driving taxis, or robotaxis, are already commonplace in American cities with over 1,500 vehicles across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin.

“Autonomous vehicles, such as Waymo, hold the potential to significantly improve road safety because, quite simply, the human driver is removed,” said James Gibson, Executive Director of Road Safety GB. 

“The data shows that the Waymo vehicles have performed far safer compared to human drivers across more than 100 million autonomous miles. Rolling out autonomous vehicles in a progressive yet measured way will be the best approach. The road safety profession and wider society should embrace it. It could lead to a future that our vision zero aspirations envision.”

Others are critical of autonomous vehicles. Activist groups such as Safe Street Rebel campaign to “end car dependence and rethink our streets around public transit, walking and bikes.”  In February 2024, a cyclist was struck by a driverless car in San Francisco, causing minor injuries. In February 2025, a cyclist suffered brain and spine injuries after a passenger in an autonomous vehicle opened its back door in a marked bike lane, causing the cyclist to crash into another robotaxi that was illegally blocking the path.

Inclusion specialists have praised the expansion. Robin Spinks, Head of Inclusive Design at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), said: “The planned introduction of Waymo in the UK represents the potential for the dawn of a new era in independent mobility options for blind and partially sighted people.

“As someone who’s been severely sight impaired since birth, I’ve long hoped for the day when technology can safely enable spontaneous autonomous travel. Autonomous vehicles systems should be accessible to everyone and we’re working with the community and our industry partners to ensure that the rollout of this technology prioritises the safety and diverse needs of riders and pedestrians.”

Picture: a CGI showing a rendering of the 6th-generation Waymo Driver on Hyundai’s all-electric IONIQ 5 SUV. Image Credit: Waymo

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 16 October 2025

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