Waymo’s Next Steps in Europe (and Overseas)

With offices in nine countries—six of them in Europe—the question now is what Waymo’s next steps will be for launching a robotaxi service. And there are already some clues from the U.S., where such a robotaxi service is already in operation in a dozen metropolitan areas.

Since Waymo has already developed the technology and is using it commercially, not all of the steps described in this post need to be taken. However, some steps are still necessary, though they can be completed in a much shorter period of time.

1. Physical Presence

After opening a branch office, Waymo must complete the following steps:

1. On-site physical presence: office, depot with charging infrastructure, support center
2. Vehicles equipped with the Waymo Driver (at least 50 per region)
3. Employees: Security drivers, maintenance, customer service, operations center…

2. Legal Framework

In order for Waymo to even test its robotaxis and create high-precision navigation maps in a region, it needs legislation and regulations that permit this and provide a path to licensing a commercial, driverless robotaxi service.

Local authorities in European countries (as well as Japan and South Korea) face the challenge of dealing with Waymo, the first robotaxi provider that has already been successfully operating a commercial, driverless robotaxi service for years, while they themselves have little experience in this area and must develop criteria and testing protocols that will enable certification and approval.

Much like the construction of the Tesla factory in Berlin-Grünheide, the launch of Waymo’s robotaxi service has garnered significant public and political attention. Furthermore, both Tesla—with its factory in Shanghai—and Waymo—with its robotaxi operations in the U.S.—have demonstrated that it is possible to complete construction and begin operations within a very short timeframe, and that the operations themselves represent state-of-the-art technology. Consequently, the public and policymakers do not blame Waymo (or Tesla) for any delays, but rather the authorities, and thus interpret this as a reflection of the entire country’s capacity for innovation and entrepreneurship.

3. Technical Preparation

Once the physical infrastructure and legal framework are in place, Waymo can begin test drives. During this process, the company will create highly accurate navigation maps of a region using the robotaxis, while also making adjustments to account for country- and region-specific traffic conditions. This includes traffic signs, speed limits, stopping and parking zones, the road conditions in historically developed cities and regions, typical weather patterns, potential integration into public transportation, and the traffic behavior of human drivers typical of that country.

4. Public Relations

In addition, a robotaxi manufacturer must earn the public’s trust. The skepticism of the local population centers on the safety of the technology, fears of job losses in the taxi industry, potential restrictions and disruptions to traffic and parking, as well as an aversion to the multibillion-dollar companies and owners behind the technology.

Waymo has demonstrated how the public can support the operation of a robotaxi service. Eighty-three organizations—ranging from the Association for the Blind, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Chamber of Commerce, and child protection organizations to bicycle clubs—submitted statements of support during the March 2024 licensing process in California.

Waymo regularly hosts public events where attendees can not only get a close look at a vehicle and take it for a test drive, but also ask questions about the technology, safety, the background and motivation behind the technology, as well as what users, the public, and emergency responders can expect.

5. Time Period

Depending on the region, it is expected to take 9 to 18 months from the start of testing until Waymo launches its commercial driverless robotaxi service. For other manufacturers, this may take longer, as none of them yet have Waymo’s level of experience.

In London, it was announced in October 2025 that Waymo had opened an office there; testing began in December 2025, and Waymo expected to officially begin operations no earlier than September 2026 and no later than the end of 2026. In Tokyo, however, the process is taking much longer. It was announced there in December 2024 that Waymo had set up an office, and the first depots were identified in April 2025. However, Waymo is still not conducting driverless tests in Tokyo and has not announced a timeline for launching a commercial robotaxi service.

6. Factors Influencing the Situation in Europe

Which of the six European countries do you think will be the first to have a Waymo robotaxi service? That depends mainly on two factors, neither of which has anything to do with Waymo itself.

1. Government Policy and Bureaucracy
2. Domestic Automotive Industry and Trade Associations

First and foremost, the willingness of government agencies will determine whether and to what extent decision-makers are receptive to the new system. Are they open to these new technologies and willing to share in risks that are difficult to assess, to learn as they go, and to adapt regulations and criteria accordingly—or will they overwhelm applicants with bureaucratic red tape and requirements (A38 permit) that delay approval?

A note on this: as appealing as a regulatory agency’s concern for high safety standards in robotaxis may sound, that concern may be misguided. Current data suggests that Waymo’s robotaxis are already safer than human drivers. By delaying approval, regulatory officials and politicians bear shared responsibility for every traffic fatality that could have been prevented by a robotaxi.

A second factor is the strength of the domestic automotive industry and its trade associations. In Germany and France, as well as in Spain, the automotive industry plays a major economic role. Countries such as the Netherlands or England, which lack a significant automotive industry, often view such technologies as an opportunity to build a new industry within their own borders. In Germany and France, however, this is perceived as a threat, and obstacles are placed in the path of the newcomers.

Interest groups such as the TÜV could also stand to lose their status as guardians of safety and reliability. Trade unions and guilds that fear business losses and job cuts—specifically taxi companies and taxi drivers—are also likely to mount a fierce campaign against Waymo. Union-friendly countries like France and Germany, where there is also a high propensity for labor disputes, will likely make things difficult for Waymo. Other groups will include activists who oppose robotaxis for reasons that are partly justified and partly irrational.

Without the necessary political will and support from the authorities, this issue is unlikely to make much progress.

Recent examples include the protests against the Tesla factory in Berlin-Grünheide, which led to clashes between demonstrators, occupations of the construction site, and even a terrorist arson attack on power poles. Uber can also tell you a thing or two about this, as taxi drivers and the taxi guild continue to resist ride-sharing services, forcing them to endure long wait times or return trips to a depot.

7. Where Will Waymo Launch First?

Based on everything that has been said, I would predict that England (second half of 2026), followed by Switzerland and the Netherlands starting in the spring and fall of 2027, respectively, will be the next European countries to have a commercial, driverless Waymo robotaxi service. Spain and Portugal on the Iberian Peninsula will likely follow, with France and Germany bringing up the rear among the six mentioned countries; these are expected to launch the service no earlier than the second half of 2027, though 2028 is more likely. In the meantime, it’s even possible that other European countries where Waymo currently has no presence will jump the gun.

Addendum

List of organizations that supported Waymo’s commercial launch in California (Source):

1. 100 Black Men of Los Angeles
2. 3 Feet Please
3. American Council of the Blind
4. Assemblymember Vince Fong (32nd District)
5. AutoNation
6. Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association
7. Bahati Foundation
8. Bay Area Council
9. Best Buddies International
10. BikeLA
11. Professor Billy Riggs, University of San Francisco
12. Blinded Veterans Association
13. Boys and Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley
14. Breathe Southern California
15. Brotherhood Crusade
16. Burlingame/SFO Chamber of Commerce
17. California Bicycle Coalition
18. California Chamber of Commerce
19. California Walks
20. Center for Council
21. Central City Association
22. Chamber of Progress
23. Chamber San Mateo County
24. Community Coalition
25. Congress of Racial Equality of California
26. DTLA Proud
27. Easterseals Southern California
28. Epilepsy Foundation of Northern
29. California
30. Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility (Responsibility.org)
31. Goodwill of the San Francisco Bay
32. Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce
33. Greater Miracle Chamber of Commerce
34. Harvest Home
35. Heart of Los Angeles
36. Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley
37. Homeboy Industries
38. Hundley Foundation
39. Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco
40. Integrated Community Collaborative
41. International Brotherhood of Electric Workers (IBEW) Local Union 617
42. Professor Jiaqi Ma, Center of Excellence on New Mobility and Automated Vehicles at University of California, Los Angeles
43. Jobs for the Future
44. Karsh Center
45. LA-Tech.org
46. Los Altos Chamber of Commerce
47. Los Angeles Business Council
48. Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed)
49. Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
50. Los Angeles Mission
51. Margaret Cooper (San Mateo
52. resident)
53. Mothers Against Drunk Driving
54. Mountain View Chamber of Commerce
55. National Council on Independent Living
56. National Federation of the Blind
57. National Federation of the Blind of California
58. National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Bike MS – Northern California Chapter of NMSS)
59. National Sleep Foundation
60. NorCal Spinal Cord Injury Foundation (NorCal SCI)
61. Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce
62. Pico Union Project
63. Safe Kids Worldwide
64. San Francisco Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
65. San Mateo County Economic Development Association
66. Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
67. Santa Monica Families for Safe
68. Streets
69. Self-Help for the Elderly
70. SHE IS HOPE LA
71. Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition
72. Silicon Valley Leadership Group
73. South LA Best Buy Teen Tech Center
74. South Park Neighborhood Association
75. Southern California Resource Services for Independent Living
76. Street Racing Kills
77. Streets Are For Everyone
78. TEC Leimert
79. TechNet
80. United Cerebral Palsy
81. Veloz
82. Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
83. Westwood Village Improvement Association

This article was also published in German.