Waymo Plans to Launch Robotaxi Service in London

Waymo, a leader in autonomous driving, plans to launch its robotaxi service in London by 2026. This expansion marks the second international step for its parent company, Alphabet, following its expansion into Tokyo. Speculation about the service's launch in the UK has intensified following multiple job postings in London. Waymo has strong ties to the UK; in 2019, the company acquired Latent Logic, a British startup specializing in machine learning, which originated from the Computer Science Department at Oxford University. Latent Logic utilizes an advanced machine learning approach known as "Imitation Learning," aiming to make self-driving car simulations more realistic and accurate. As part of this acquisition, Waymo established an engineering center in Oxford.

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Waymo confirmed that its all-electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles, equipped with advanced autonomous driving technology, will begin driving on London's public roads in the coming weeks. Waymo will start this trial phase with human safety drivers behind the wheel, before gradually transitioning to driverless tests, and ultimately, the public will be invited to request its robotaxis. The company successfully follows this phased strategy in other commercial markets such as Phoenix and San Francisco in the United States.

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The launch of the commercial robotaxi service in 2026 depends on the completion of the British government's legislative approval process for these operations. Waymo intends to collaborate with MooV, which already operates its self-driving vehicles in Phoenix, to handle fleet operations in London. Waymo is increasingly resorting to strategic partnerships to share the burden of operating robotaxi services. For example, in Austin and Atlanta, Waymo partners with Uber in the responsibilities of owning and operating a fleet of autonomous vehicles, where Uber handles charging, maintenance, and cleaning of the vehicles, and manages access to the robotaxis through its own app, while Waymo monitors the autonomous technology and operations, including roadside assistance and some aspects of passenger support to ensure a safe and efficient experience.

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Waymo has significantly intensified its trial and commercial operations over the past two years, expanding beyond its initial market in Phoenix to several other major US cities, including Austin, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The company also plans to introduce commercial robotaxi service in Miami, Nashville, and Washington D.C., underscoring its commitment to expanding the availability of its innovative technology.

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