Waymo robotaxis are headed to Munich
Waymo has announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in Munich, Germany, following the establishment of a local entity. The company must navigate mapping, testing, and regulatory approval processes before a planned commercial launch in late 2027.
Why it matters
Waymo's expansion into Germany marks a significant step in the global adoption of autonomous vehicle technology within the EU's regulatory framework.
Waymo said Tuesday it plans to launch a robotaxi service in Munich, months after the Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company set up an entity in Germany.
The company still must weave its way through mapping and testing, as well as clear regulatory hurdles before it can launch commercial operations.
Waymo will begin, as it has in other 11 cities where it has commercial robotaxi operations, by first manually driving its vehicles to map the streets of Munich. It will then test its autonomous vehicles with human safety drivers behind the wheel, before removing them. Waymo typically allows its employees, media, and other invited guests to ride in its driverless vehicles at this stage.
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