Wed, 28 Jan 2026

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 Driverless taxis set to launch in UK as soon as September

Waymo has laid out plans for a robotaxi service in London with a pilot scheme due to begin in April.

* Waymo plans to launch robotaxi service in London by September, pending regulatory changes.
* UK government plans to change regulations in 2026 to enable driverless taxis.
* Pilot service will launch in April with no specific date for paying passengers.
* Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood said the government is supporting Waymo and others through passenger pilots and pro-innovation regulations.
* Autonomous vehicles must meet strict safety standards, including protection from hacking and cyber threats.
* The industry could add £42bn to the UK economy by 2035 and create nearly 40,000 new jobs.
* Passengers will be able to hail Waymo robotaxis via an app once rules permit.
* Pricing for Waymo's service will be "competitive" but "premium", with prices rising during high demand periods.
* Rival companies Uber and Lyft are also preparing to launch robotaxi services in the UK when regulations change.
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