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American firm Waymo has declared that its driverless taxis will be on offer for hire on London's thoroughfares starting next year.

London Becomes First European City for Autonomous Ride-Hailing.

The UK capital will become the first European city to launch an autonomous taxi service, akin to those already in use in multiple US cities and several American urban centers using Waymo's innovative technology.

Initial Operations to Start with Safety Drivers.

Waymo stated that its vehicles are presently traveling to London and will commence driving on the city's roads in the next few weeks with safety drivers in control.

The company – initially formed as a offshoot from Google's self-driving car program and belonging to the Alphabet family – explained it would expand services and partner with the government transport body and the city's mobility organization to obtain the necessary approvals to offer fully autonomous services by 2026.

Expanding Involvement in Self-Driving Transport In London.

Additional organizations, including Uber and the British tech company Wayve, have also announced their own intentions to pilot driverless vehicles in the city next year.

This comes after the government officials announcing it would fast-track rules enabling real-world tests to proceed before laws enabling driverless transport is enacted in full.

“I am thrilled that Waymo aims to bring their offerings to London next year, under our proposed piloting scheme,” stated the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander.

“Supporting the autonomous vehicle market will enhance inclusive travel alternatives in addition to bringing employment, capital, and opportunities to the UK. Innovative funding like this will support our goal to be global pioneers in new technology and drive national renewal.”

Complete Launch Expected After New Legislation Comes into Force.

A fuller rollout of driverless vehicles is projected in the UK after the Automated Vehicles Act fully takes effect in 2027.

The Company's Existing Connections in the United Kingdom and Internationally.

Waymo currently has ties to the UK after establishing its pioneering European engineering hub in Oxford in 2019.

It is furthermore starting services in Tokyo using JLR electric vehicles, marking its only other current project beyond the United States.

“Evidence confirms how to responsibly scale totally self-driving transport solutions, and we look forward to expand the benefits of our platform to the Britain,” remarked the company executive, noting that the technology was “making roads safer and travel more accessible”.

Established Track Record in the US.

Waymo launched its self-driving vehicles in 2020 and currently claims it has transported in excess of ten million customers in the US.

Regardless of some troubling occurrences, Waymo asserted that evidence showed that vehicles driven by humans were involved in crashes that hurt pedestrians significantly more frequently than its autonomous fleet.