Waymo robotaxis to launch in London next year
Waymo has announced that its fully autonomous ride-hailing service is coming to London in 2026. “We’re excited to support London’s extensive network of bus, tube, bike, and pedestrian infrastructure with our ride-hailing service, which will be available via the Waymo app,” said a Waymo statememt. “Over the coming months, we’ll lay the groundwork for our […]
US police department attempt to issue ticket to Waymo robotaxi
If a driverless car makes an illegal U-turn, does the car still get a ticket? A police department in California grappled with this existential question last week, says The Guardian. During a DUI enforcement operation, officers in San Bruno pulled over a car without anyone behind the wheel after the autonomous vehicle made an illegal U-turn at […]
Waymo set to launch driverless taxis on Britain’s roads
Waymo has launched a hiring spree in London for operational staff to manage a fleet of driverless cars and respond to incidents on the road, in preparation for the start of its first London trials in 2026. Autonomous taxi rides without a human driver behind the wheel are expected to begin in Britain next year and London […]
New York City: Stop Waymo’s driverless cars, say taxi drivers
Taxi drivers in New York City are making it clear that they do not want to share the road with self-driving cabs. The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers is asking Governor Kathy Hochul to halt a program passed by Mayor Eric Adams, says Eyewitness News, which is allowing Alphabet’s Waymo to test eight […]
Waymo receives permit to test robotaxis in New York City
Waymo has received its first permit to begin testing its autonomous vehicles in New York City with a trained specialist behind the wheel, helping the company advance its self-driving ambitions. Waymo can now begin testing a limited number of its self-driving cars in parts of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn, reports Reuters. Until now, Waymo has […]
HSBC analysts: Tesla’s robotaxi fleet won’t turn a profit until 2033
A newly published report by analysts at HSBC suggests that the potential market for driverless taxis was “widely overestimated” and warned that it could take years before robotaxi fleets began returning a profit, The idea that robotaxis would be more profitable than their human-driven counterparts was based on a misconception, says Business Insider. Although robotaxi […]
Police unsure who to charge after pulling over self-driving Waymo for illegal turn
The question of what happens when an autonomous vehicle commits a driving offence has long-been in the thoughts of industry professionals. Last week police in the US were forced to find an answer as a video uploaded to TikTok appears to show a Waymo vehicle in California being pulled over after making a wrong turn in […]
Driverless taxis “beginning to react like humans” in San Francisco
Driverless cars are beginning to display human-like behaviors like impatience on the roads, in a sign of increased intelligence in the robotaxis. The chilling development was identified by University of San Francisco engineering Professor William Riggs, who has been studying Waymo cars since their inception, says the Daily Mail. On a journey with a reporter […]
Waymo recalls more than 1200 driverless vehicles
Robotaxi and self-driving car company Waymo has recalled 1200 of its driverless electric vehicles after reporting crashes with certain types of road barriers. Waymo filed a report with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, saying it is aware of 16 different car collisions between 2022 and 2024, primarily involving chains, gates and similar barriers. The company says it provides more […]
James May experiences fully autonomous Waymo Robotaxi in California
Motoring broadcaster James May has posted a video of himself experiencing the delights of a Waymo Robotaxi while working in California. In typical downbeat May style, the veteran journalist took the fully autonomous taxi to visit a nearby Target store to buy a pair of jeans. Automotive, tech and lifestyle website Supercar Blondie reported that […]