Key facts
- Waymo plans to launch its self-driving taxis in Munich by the end of 2027.
- The company will begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Munich in the coming weeks.
- Initial testing will involve manually driven vehicles to map roads and test with safety drivers.
- This marks Waymo's first expansion into the European Union.
- German authorities approved autonomous vehicles for operation in approved geographical areas in 2021.
Waymo, the autonomous driving subsidiary of Alphabet, announced it will begin testing its self-driving vehicles in Munich in the coming weeks. This initial phase will involve manually driven vehicles to map local roads and test with trained autonomous specialists behind the wheel, laying the groundwork for a commercial ride-hailing service planned for launch toward the end of 2027. This move signifies Waymo's first expansion into the European Union. German authorities approved autonomous vehicles for operation in designated geographical areas in 2021. The company is engaging with local, state, and federal officials on regulatory approvals needed to offer its service in Germany and plans to invest in local fleet operations and create high-skilled jobs.