Waymo plans robotaxi service in Munich
Waymo announced plans to launch a driverless taxi service in Munich, aiming for commercial operations by late 2027. The company still needs to complete mapping, testing and regulatory approvals.
Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company Waymo announced on Tuesday its plans to launch a robotaxi service in Munich, Germany, months after establishing a legal entity in the country.
Before commercial operations can begin, Waymo must follow the same process it has used in the 11 other cities where it currently runs commercial robotaxi services. The company will first manually drive vehicles to map Munich's streets, then test its autonomous vehicles with human safety drivers behind the wheel before eventually removing them. At that stage, Waymo typically allows employees, media and other invited guests to ride in the driverless vehicles before gradually opening the service to the wider public.
In a blog post, the company said it is working with Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), along with state and local officials, and expects to open commercial ride-hailing to the public toward the end of 2027.
Germany as an AV testing hub
Waymo's entry into the German market comes more than five years after the country's lawmakers passed legislation allowing driverless vehicles on public roads, making Germany the first European Union country with a legal framework for Level 4 autonomous driving — where the vehicle handles all driving in certain conditions without requiring a human to take over.
This framework has turned Germany into a popular hub for autonomous vehicle testing. According to the KBA's latest data, companies including Mobileye and Volkswagen already hold testing permits there, though Waymo does not yet have one. Most existing permits, including those held by U.K.-based Wayve and Israel-based Autobrains, are for the lower Level 3 designation, which still requires a driver able to take over when needed.
Beyond Germany, the U.K. — particularly London — is also emerging as a major battleground for robotaxis. Waymo plans to launch commercial service there in 2026, competing against Wayve and its partner Uber, as well as China's Baidu, which is already testing autonomous vehicles in the city through a partnership with Lyft and Freenow.
