US robotaxi firm Waymo plans to launch in Germany / Photo: Heather Diehl - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
-
Municipal Elections: How Service Failure Becomes a Public Health Crisis in South Africa
-
Turkish Energy Minister Highlights Qatar as Key Partner for Regional and Global Energy Security
-
Rene Eyre Revisits Autobiographical Performance 'Say A Little Prayer' in London
-
London Museum Granted 24/7 License Ahead of November Opening
-
UAE's HCT Holds Record Graduation and Announces Major Training Expansion
-
Dana White Confirms Flight to Washington for Trump Meeting on Press Secretary Role
-
NASA Awards $10B Lunar Contract Framework to SpaceX, Blue Origin
-
Dengue Fever Expands Into High Himalayas as Climate Change Warms Nepal
-
Katy Perry Tells Fans Ex-Husband Russell Brand 'Should Be in Jail' During UK Concert
-
IoT Refrigerator Hacks Disrupt Blood Labs and Supermarkets Across Europe and US
-
South African election results renew debate over identity-based voting
-
Post-election pressures complicate US and Israeli decisions on Iran
-
South African voters report smoother local election but declining IEC trust
-
UN members approve talks on treaty protocol against environmental crime
-
Dolly Parton museum and Nashville hotel open after singer’s death
-
Family-run West Sussex beach café prepares for first winter season
-
George and Amal Clooney attend New York political-comedy reading
US robotaxi firm Waymo plans to launch in Germany
Self-driving car company Waymo said Tuesday it will launch its robotaxis in the German city of Munich next year, marking the US group's first foray into the European Union.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet, will in the coming weeks start mapping the city's streets and conducting tests with specialist drivers at the wheel.
Commercial ride-hailing will be offered to the public at the end of 2027, the company said in a statement.
The firm, whose robotaxis currently operate in several US cities, is also planning to expand to London and Tokyo this year.
"Munich is a world-class hub for mobility and engineering, and becoming part of this city marks an important milestone in our global expansion," said Waymo co-chief executive Tekedra Mawakana.
Florian Herrmann, a minister in the Bavaria state government, welcomed the news.
"Autonomous driving is a key technology for the future of mobility and for the transformation of our automotive industry," he said.
Bavaria, of which Munich is the capital, is a traditional centre of Germany's car industry, home to BMW and numerous auto suppliers.
But the sector is facing an unprecedented crisis as it battles Chinese competition, a tricky transition to electric vehicles and weak demand.
Waymo is the latest firm to launch trials in Europe, where uptake of robotaxi services has been much slower than in the United States and China.
Chinese and US firms have announced trials in places including Croatia, London and Madrid.
Ferreira--PC
