Waymo. London's the test.
Waymo, Google's driverless car spin off, says it will bring robotaxis to London in 2026. If they can handle London's chaos, they can handle anywhere.
THE GIST ON WAYMO: "No one up front"
What is Waymo planning?
Waymo says it's bringing robotaxis to London in 2026. First, they'll test with a human in the seat, but the plan is fully driverless rides. That would make London the first European city where you hail a cab and find no one sitting in the front.
Why London?
Those of you who drive in London know it's not the easiest place to test this. Narrow streets, unpredictable traffic, black cabs that know every shortcut. It's chaos. But if robotaxis can handle London, they can handle anywhere.
Will anyone get in?
The real test is trust. Will people get into a car with no driver? That's a bigger hurdle than the tech.
If it works, it could change how we move around cities, with fewer cars to own, less parking and more rides on demand. It also means a shake up for everyone from Uber drivers to black cabs, who suddenly have robots as rivals.
Would you get into a driverless cab?
Your take. One tap, then see how everyone else voted.
Quick answers
When is Waymo coming to London?
2026, starting with a human in the seat before fully driverless rides.
What is the biggest hurdle?
Whether people will trust getting into a car with no driver, which Huw says is bigger than the tech.
See you on the next one.
What should the next one be? Suggest a topic for Huw to explain
The conversation
Comments
Nothing here yet. Start the conversation: Huw reads every comment before it is published.
