Full story
Waymo targets Munich rollout
Waymo said it will begin testing autonomous vehicles in Munich in the coming weeks, laying the groundwork for a commercial ride-hailing service in Germany that it aims to launch toward the end of 2027.
“Waymo said on Tuesday it would begin testing its autonomous vehicles in Munich”
Reuters reported that Waymo’s vehicles would initially drive manually across Munich to map local roads and test with trained autonomous specialists behind the wheel.
In its announcement, Waymo said it is taking a phased approach that starts with high-definition mapping of local street networks and testing with trained autonomous specialists behind the wheel before it aims to open commercial ride-hailing to the public towards the end of 2027.
Waymo said it is already engaging with local, state and federal officials on regulatory approvals needed to offer its service in Germany, while also planning to invest in local fleet operations and create high-skilled jobs as it prepares to launch in Munich.
Officials praise, company pledges
Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana framed the Munich move as a milestone in global expansion, saying, "Munich is a world-class hub for mobility and engineering, and becoming part of this city marks an important milestone in our global expansion," in the company’s blog post.
Bavaria’s minister Florian Herrmann welcomed the news, saying, "Autonomous driving is a key technology for the future of mobility and for the transformation of our automotive industry," as France 24 reported.
Waymo said the validation period will ensure the Waymo Driver adapts seamlessly to Munich’s distinct driving conditions before commercial ride-hailing to the public toward the end of 2027.
The company also said it is working with Germany’s Federal Motor Transport Authority, known as the KBA, as well as state authorities and local officials, and TechCrunch reported Waymo expects to open commercial ride-hailing to the public toward the end of 2027.
Competition and regulatory hurdles
Waymo’s Munich plan comes as competition in Europe’s robotaxi market intensifies, with Reuters noting that Waymo is entering Germany after operating in several US cities and TechCrunch describing Germany as a hotspot for autonomous vehicle testing.
“Waymo does not currently have any permits.”
TechCrunch reported that several companies, including Mobileye and Volkswagen, hold permits to test their autonomous vehicles in the country, while Waymo does not currently have any permits.
Reuters also reported that Waymo raised $16 billion earlier this year at a $126 billion valuation as it expands its robotaxi business, and the company said it plans to invest in local fleet operations and create high-skilled jobs as it prepares to launch in Munich.
CNBC reported that Waymo currently operates in 11 U.S. cities and is working to expand to 19 others, while also saying Munich is the company’s third international city following London and Tokyo.