Waymo to launch robotaxis in Munich by end of 2027

Alphabet's Waymo announced on Tuesday it will bring its autonomous ride-hailing service to Munich, Germany, marking its first location in the European Union and third international market after London and Tokyo. The company aims to open commercial service to the public toward the end of 2027, with phased testing beginning in the coming weeks Source: CNBC, TechCrunch.

Testing and rollout

Waymo will start by manually driving vehicles to map Munich's streets, then test with trained safety specialists before removing them Source: TechCrunch. The company is working with Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) and local officials to obtain the necessary permits Source: Engadget. Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana called Munich "a world-class hub for mobility and engineering" and promised investment in local fleet operations and high-skilled jobs Source: The Next Web.

Regulatory context

Germany passed the world's first legal framework for Level 4 autonomous driving in 2021, making it a hotspot for AV testing. However, no German company has yet used it to run a driverless commercial fleet at scale Source: The Next Web. Christian Hirte, parliamentary state secretary at the transport ministry, welcomed Waymo's move, saying Germany wants to "develop and operate" autonomous technologies in Europe Source: Euronews. Bavarian officials have pledged to cut red tape to speed deployment Source: The Next Web.

Competitive landscape

Waymo's entry intensifies competition in Europe. Uber and Autobrains announced a robotaxi programme in Munich in June, and Zagreb recently became the first European city to offer autonomous rides via Uber Source: Euronews, CNA. In London, Waymo faces rivals Wayve and Baidu, with Uber and Wayve holding minicab licences but awaiting TfL guidance Source: The Guardian. Waymo reports over 20 million trips and 350 million fully autonomous kilometres driven Source: Euronews, The Next Web.