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The US-based enterprise Waymo has declared that its self-driving vehicles will be on offer for booking on London's streets starting next year.

London Becomes Leading European City for Autonomous Ride-Hailing.

The UK capital will emerge as the inaugural European city to launch an self-driving taxi service, similar to those already familiar in multiple US cities and several American cities using Waymo's advanced technology.

Preliminary Trials to Start with Safety Drivers.

Waymo confirmed that its fleet are currently heading to London and will begin operating on the city's public roads in the next few weeks with trained human specialists supervising the vehicles.

The company – initially created as a spin-off from the tech giant's autonomous vehicle project and part of the larger corporate umbrella – explained it would expand activities and collaborate with the government transport body and the city's mobility organization to secure the essential licenses to offer completely driverless rides by 2026.

Expanding Interest in Self-Driving Mobility Across London.

Further companies, such as Uber and the UK-based technology firm Wayve, have also announced their own strategies to trial self-driving vehicles in the city next year.

This comes after the British government announcing it would accelerate guidelines permitting public trials to occur before legislation enabling autonomous cars becomes law in full.

“I am thrilled that Waymo aims to bring their offerings to London next year, under our planned trial program,” stated the transport secretary, the secretary.

“Boosting the AV industry will improve available transport options in addition to bringing jobs, investment, and possibilities to the UK. Innovative funding like this will help us deliver our objective to be international frontrunners in emerging tech and spearhead countrywide development.”

Comprehensive Launch Anticipated After Automated Vehicles Act Takes Effect.

A fuller introduction of driverless cabs is expected in the UK after the Automated Vehicles Act fully takes effect in the latter part of 2027.

The Company's Current Ties in the UK and Internationally.

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

It is furthermore introducing services in Tokyo using JLR electric vehicles, marking its sole additional existing project outside the United States.

“Evidence confirms how to safely expand totally self-driving ride-hailing, and we can’t wait to bring the advantages of our systems to the United Kingdom,” said the company executive, adding that the system was “improving road safety and mobility more inclusive”.

Proven Track Record in the US.

Waymo began its driverless vehicles in 2020 and currently claims it has served more than ten million riders in the US.

In spite of some concerning occurrences, Waymo stated that evidence showed that cars driven by drivers were associated with accidents that injured pedestrians 12 times more often than its driverless vehicles.