Waymo has announced that it has begun laying the groundwork to introduce its fully autonomous ride hailing service in Munich, Germany.
The company has stated that residents will begin to see Waymo vehicles on the streets of Munich over the coming weeks, with manual trials set to begin imminently.
Initial phases of deployment will see Waymo carry out high-definition mapping of local street networks, as well as testing with trained autonomous specialists operating the vehicles. This validation period is hoped to ensure that Waymo Driver is capable of adapting to Munich’s distinct driving conditions before commercial ride-hailing opens to the public towards the end of 2027.
Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana, said:“Munich is a world-class hub for mobility and engineering, and becoming part of this city marks an important milestone in our global expansion.
As we prepare to launch, earning the community's trust is our top priority. We look forward to investing in local fleet operations, creating high-skilled jobs, and delivering a safe, reliable service for residents and visitors alike.
Waymo has now begun engaging with local, state and federal officials on the regulatory approvals and steps needed to ‘responsibly serve the public’ in Germany.
