Waymo has announced that its driverless taxis will be available for hire on the streets of London next year.

This makes London the first European city to implement Waymo’s technology for a self-driving taxi service, similar to what’s currently operational in San Francisco and four other cities in the US.

The company confirmed that its vehicles are en route to London and will start navigating the city’s roads in the coming weeks, with “trained human experts,” or safety drivers, overseeing operations.

Originally a spin-off of Google’s self-driving car initiative and part of the parent group Alphabet, Waymo stated it would collaborate closely with the London Department for Transport to secure the necessary permits for fully autonomous vehicles by 2026.

Uber and UK tech firm Wave have also revealed plans to trial their own driverless taxis in London next year, following the UK government’s decision to fast-track regulations permitting public trials of self-driving vehicles ahead of complete legislation.

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of Transportation, expressed: “We are thrilled that Waymo intends to bring this service to London next year, in line with our proposed pilot program.

“Revitalizing the AV sector will create jobs, draw investment, and provide opportunities within the UK, while expanding accessible transportation options. Advancements like this will support our goal of becoming a leader in new technologies and spearheading national rejuvenation.”

The comprehensive rollout of self-driving taxis in the UK is anticipated to happen after the Self-Driving Vehicles Act is fully implemented in the latter half of 2027.

Waymo has a solid relationship with the UK, having established its first European engineering hub in Oxford back in 2019. The firm is also launching a service in Tokyo utilizing Jaguar Land Rover electric vehicles, marking its only current venture outside the United States.

Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, remarked that the technology is enhancing “road safety and making transport more accessible,” adding: “We have shown how to responsibly scale fully autonomous ride-hailing services, and we are eager to share the advantages of our technology in the UK.”

Waymo initiated its self-driving taxi services in 2020 and claims to have transported over 10 million passengers in the United States.

Despite some concerning incidents, Waymo asserts that data indicates that human-driven vehicles are involved in pedestrian accidents 12 times more frequently than self-driving cars.