Driverless Taxis Coming to London Streets This September

Imagine hailing a cab with no driver behind the wheel, and that cab arriving to safely take you across London.

Waymo, a Google-owned company, announced it hopes to launch a fully driverless taxi service in London by September 2026. The company showed off its fleet of self-driving Jaguars at London's Transport Museum this week, marking a major step forward for autonomous vehicles in the UK.

Right now, Waymo's cars are driving around London with safety drivers, mapping every street and learning the city's unique roads. But once regulations change later in 2026, paying passengers will be able to hail these robotaxis through an app with nobody in the driver's seat.

The cars see the world through four different sensor systems: lidar, cameras, radar, and even microphones. These sensors work together to give the vehicle a 360-degree view of everything around it, up to three football fields away, even in bad weather. A powerful computer in the trunk processes all that information instantly to make safe driving decisions.

Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood attended the launch event and shared her enthusiasm for the technology. "We know that unlike human drivers, automated vehicles don't get tired, don't get distracted and don't drive under the influence," she explained.

Safety remains the top priority, with strict standards required before these vehicles can operate. The government is ensuring the cars are protected from hacking and cyber threats before giving them the green light.

Waymo has already proven itself in the United States, where its robotaxis have driven 173 million miles fully autonomously. The company currently operates 1,000 vehicles in San Francisco and 700 in Los Angeles, giving millions of Americans rides without human drivers.

The Ripple Effect: This isn't just about convenient rides. The UK government estimates the autonomous vehicle industry could add £42 billion to the economy by 2035 and create nearly 40,000 new jobs. These positions will span engineering, maintenance, software development, and fleet management, offering opportunities across multiple skill levels.

Other companies are watching closely too. Uber and Lyft have both announced plans to launch their own robotaxi services in the UK once regulations allow, partnering with Chinese firm Baidu for their vehicles.

Pricing will be competitive but premium, similar to current ride-hailing services, with higher rates during busy times. Airport trips won't be available initially, but the service will expand as the technology proves itself on London's complex streets.

The future of transportation is rolling into London, bringing safer roads and exciting opportunities for everyone.