Waymo Expects to Start Operations in London in September

At an event yesterday at the London Transport Museum, Waymo representatives said that the company expects to begin test operations with passengers in April and commercial operations for the general public in London in September. Questions remain regarding teleoperation requirements

At the event attended by politicians, regulators, and industry representatives, Waymo held a public information session to demonstrate how Waymo’s technology could be used on British roads. Questions remained about data handling and privacy. Waymo stated that all activities in the United Kingdom would be subject to the UK GDPR and that data disclosure would be subject to local legal procedures.

The British government intends to officially launch a pilot project for passenger transport in spring 2026, enabling companies to offer self-driving services throughout the UK once safety requirements have been met and approval has been obtained from local authorities. In London, fully driverless passenger transport services would require regulatory approval and the consent of the local transport authority, Transport for London (TfL).

Currently, 24 Waymo vehicles are in test operation in London, primarily collecting navigation maps and specific features of British road traffic.

This article was also published in German.