The US-based enterprise Waymo has announced that its driverless taxis will be on offer for hire on London's streets starting next year.
London will emerge as the inaugural European city to introduce an driverless taxi service, similar to those currently operational in multiple US cities and four other American urban centers utilizing Waymo's advanced technology.
Waymo confirmed that its cars are currently traveling to London and will begin navigating on the capital's roads in the near future with safety drivers behind the wheel.
The company â initially established as a spin-off from Google's self-driving car program and part of the larger corporate umbrella â explained it would increase operations and partner with the UK transport authorities and the city's mobility organization to acquire the essential approvals to provide totally self-driving services by 2026.
Further companies, such as Uber and the UK-based tech company Wayve, have also revealed their own strategies to test self-driving cabs in the city next year.
This is in response to the government officials confirming it would fast-track rules enabling public trials to take place before regulation supporting autonomous cars is enacted in full.
âI am thrilled that Waymo intends to introduce their technology to London next year, under our suggested testing initiative,â stated the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander.
âStrengthening the autonomous vehicle sector will enhance accessible travel alternatives in addition to bringing jobs, investment, and opportunities to the UK. Innovative support like this will assist in achieving our mission to be global pioneers in advanced innovation and lead economic growth.â
A broader rollout of driverless cabs is anticipated in the UK after the Automated Vehicles Act is fully implemented in 2027.
Waymo already has connections to Britain after establishing its pioneering European research base in Oxford in 2019.
It is also introducing offerings in Tokyo using Jaguar Land Rover eco-friendly cars, marking its second present project beyond the United States.
âEvidence confirms how to safely expand completely driverless ride-hailing, and we canât wait to extend the positive impacts of our platform to the United Kingdom,â remarked Waymo's co-chief executive, noting that the system was âimproving road safety and transportation more inclusiveâ.
Waymo introduced its self-driving taxis in 2020 and currently claims it has served over ten million passengers in the US.
Despite some troubling occurrences, Waymo indicated that data demonstrated that vehicles controlled by humans were linked to accidents that injured pedestrians 12 times more often than its driverless fleet.
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