Waymo Announces Wies’n Service at Munich’s Oktoberfest

Just one day after Waymo, the U.S.-based robotaxi manufacturer, announced its plans to begin the first test drives in Munich in a few weeks as part of setting up a robotaxi service, Munich Mayor Dominik Krause—who has been in office since May—announced the next big news in a joint press release with Waymo. Waymo is set to be deployed as early as Oktoberfest, which will open its festival tents on the Theresienwiese on September 19.

The first change will be to do away with the draft horses during the festive procession of the brewery wagons, since—despite their calm temperament and great strength—they have been struggling more and more in recent years due to the increasing size of the sturdy brewery daughters and sons riding along on the wagons. Climate change and this year’s hot weather also contributed to the fact that it was no longer possible to source enough high-quality, energy-rich oats for the horses. One or two Waymos each will pull the brewery wagons through Munich to the Theresienwiese.The horses, on the other hand, are meant to complement the Hax’nsemmeln (bread rolls with pork) with “Pony” rolls as another culinary delicacy and a way to soak up the alcohol. There’s no need to get all nostalgic about it, stated the mayor.

In addition to the traditional breweries Augustiner, Hacker-Pschorr, Hofbräu, Löwenbräu, Paulaner, and Spaten, Waymo-Bräu will also be operating its own festival tent for the first time. But you won’t have to climb onto the beer benches to enjoy a drink—Waymo has prepared a special vehicle that’s guaranteed to be beer-proof and can withstand everything from traditional shoes with nails to high heels. With the Waymo festival tent, Munich’s digital nerds now have a home of their own for the first time—a place where they won’t be looked at askance or even with hostility in the other tents when they order a Maß (a one-liter cup) of lemonade.

In addition to culinary and musical delights in the festival tent, other forms of entertainment will also be on offer. The extremely popular “Devil’s Wheel” will be replaced by a Waymo, which will spin in circles and is sure to send the dirndl skirts flying. True Bavarians know what Bavarian dirndls have in common with Scots wearing kilts underneath. That’s right—neither of them knows the word “underwear.” So there’s sure to be plenty of good-natured fun.

The traditional tapping of the keg, followed by the famous words “O’zapft is!”—with which the mayor officially opens Oktoberfest—will take place in a Waymo. In the tapping van, a 20-liter keg of the finest Waymo brew will be waiting, just as eagerly as the number of strokes it will take the Green Party mayor to tap it. More than two strokes, and he can kiss his reelection goodbye. A mayor from the Green Party, in particular, will be under very close scrutiny.

Waymo will be in full operation not only for the arrival but also for the inglorious departure of the beer- and Oktoberfest-induced casualties. From the “Kotzwies’n” (puking meadow) to the drunk tank and, occasionally, to the morgue, Waymo will likely have to run the expected round-the-clock service with a tractor-trailer.

Waymo is asking the people of Munich for one more favor. The Americans have come up with two designs for the Wies’n service and want to hear directly from Oktoberfest visitors which design they prefer. One features pretzels, the other the one-liter-beer mugs, known by the locals as “Maß”. People can indicate their approval or disapproval of a design by commenting “Oasch” (“Arse”) or “Prost” (“Cheers”).

Thanks to Waymo, record beer consumption is expected this year. Munich residents are citing the driverless robotaxi service as all the more reason not to stop at seven or eight Maß this time—since they won’t have to drive themselves home in the bimmers—but instead to let a robotaxi take them home for the first time. “That means there’s still room for 2–3 more Maß,” said Mayor Krause.

Well then: Prost and Cheers!

This article was also published in German.