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The US-based company Waymo has declared that its autonomous taxis will be operational for hire on London's streets beginning next year.

London Becomes First European City for Self-Driving Cab Service.

The UK capital will become the first European city to launch an autonomous taxi service, comparable with those already familiar in multiple US cities and four other American locations utilizing Waymo's cutting-edge platform.

Initial Testing Phase to Begin with Trained Operators.

Waymo announced that its fleet are currently en route to London and will begin operating on the city's public roads in the near future with experienced operators in control.

Waymo – originally created as a offshoot from Google's autonomous vehicle initiative and part of the larger corporate umbrella – explained it would scale up operations and work closely with the government transport body and the city's mobility organization to secure the essential licenses to offer fully autonomous trips by 2026.

Growing Presence in Autonomous Mobility In London.

Further companies, such as Uber and the British tech company Wayve, have likewise revealed their own intentions to test self-driving taxis in the capital next year.

This follows the British government confirming it would accelerate guidelines permitting public testing to proceed before regulation allowing autonomous cars is enacted in full.

“It is exciting that Waymo intends to introduce their technology to London next year, under our planned trial program,” stated the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander.

“Supporting the autonomous vehicle market will increase inclusive transport options alongside creating employment, funding, and possibilities to the UK. Innovative investment like this will help us deliver our goal to be international frontrunners in emerging tech and lead economic growth.”

Full Rollout Expected After New Legislation Is Enforced.

A more extensive rollout of autonomous vehicles is projected in the UK after the related legislation fully takes effect in late 2027.

The Company's Established Ties in the United Kingdom and Internationally.

Waymo presently has ties to the UK after opening its first European engineering hub in Oxford in 2019.

The company is additionally introducing operations in Tokyo using JLR eco-friendly cars, marking its only other present venture outside the US.

“Evidence confirms how to effectively grow fully autonomous ride-hailing, and we can’t wait to expand the advantages of our technology to the UK,” remarked the company executive, adding that the innovation was “making roads safer and transportation more accessible”.

Established Experience in the US.

Waymo began its driverless cabs in 2020 and presently states it has transported more than 10 million riders in the United States.

Despite some alarming incidents, Waymo asserted that statistics showed that vehicles driven by drivers were linked to crashes that harmed pedestrians at a much higher rate than its self-driving cars.