London set to become Europe’s first city with driverless taxis

The UK capital will become the first European city to host this kind of service, with public trials expected by 2026.

Waymo already operates a large fleet of robot-taxis in cities across the United States, and its London entry marks a major milestone in global rollout. The company says the first vehicles will arrive in the weeks ahead, starting under human supervision before transitioning to fully driverless operations.

The move has strong support from the UK government and urban regulators, signalling that London is serious about becoming a global leader in low-emission, high-tech mobility.

So, when will we see these taxis on the roads?

Ahead of the 2026, launch a supervised-testing phase with human “safety drivers” behind the wheel is expected to begin soon in the final weeks of 2025.

The UK government has also outlined that a pilot for commercial driverless taxi and bus services could commence in spring 2026 under new legislation.

This timeline gives London businesses and fleet operators early warning: the new mobility wave is coming fast.

Why a fully electric taxi fleet?

Electric operation is a key feature of this new mobility model. All of Waymo’s taxi vehicles for London will be fully electric, allowing a cleaner, quieter and more efficient ride than traditional petrol or diesel vehicles. For example, one of the stated models is the Jaguar I‑Pace electric SUV, which Waymo has used in its US service and plans to deploy in London.

Operating electric vehicles provides benefits to fleets and businesses too: lower running costs, ULEZ exemption, reduced emissions, less noise in city centres, all of which align with the sustainability goals many organisations are striving for.