Waymo plans Munich robotaxi launch in 2027

Waymo said Tuesday it will launch robotaxis in Munich next year, marking the Alphabet-owned self-driving car company's first move into the European Union.

The company said it will start mapping Munich's streets and testing vehicles with specialist drivers at the wheel in the coming weeks. Commercial ride-hailing will be offered to the public at the end of 2027.

Waymo's robotaxis currently operate in several US cities. The company is also planning to expand to London and Tokyo this year.

Waymo co-chief executive Tekedra Mawakana said Munich was an important step in the company's global expansion. Florian Herrmann, a minister in Bavaria's state government, welcomed the announcement and called autonomous driving a key technology for future mobility.

Munich is the capital of Bavaria, a major centre of Germany's car industry and home to BMW and many auto suppliers. Robotaxi services have developed more slowly in Europe than in the United States and China, though Chinese and US companies have announced trials in places including Croatia, London and Madrid.