Waymo announced on Tuesday that it intends to launch its robotaxi service in Munich; an action that comes months after the company established a local entity in Germany. Waymo is the self-driving car company owned by Alphabet.
However, before beginning commercial operations in Munich, Waymo must complete mapping and vehicle testing phases and obtain the necessary legal permits.
Waymo’s start of operations begins with mapping Munich’s streets
Waymo will use the same method in Munich that it has employed in 11 other cities where its robotaxis operate commercially. The company will first drive its vehicles manually to survey the city streets for mapping.
In the next phase, Waymo’s autonomous vehicles will be tested with human safety drivers behind the wheel. After this phase is completed, the drivers will be removed from the vehicles. Waymo usually allows employees, media and other invited guests to ride in its driverless autonomous vehicles at this stage.
Finally, after receiving the necessary legal approvals for commercial operation, Waymo’s robotaxis will be made available to the public on a limited basis.
The company said on Tuesday in a blog post that it will work with the Federal Motor Transport Authority of Germany (KBA), state authorities and local officials, and expects to launch its commercial ride-sharing service to the public by the end of 2027.
Germany and the competition to develop autonomous vehicles
Waymo’s entry into Germany comes more than five years after the country’s lawmakers passed a law allowing the use of driverless vehicles on public roads. In doing so, Germany became the first European Union country to establish a clear legal framework for Level 4 autonomous driving.
Level 4 autonomy, as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), refers to a system that can perform all driving tasks in specific conditions or environments without expecting control by a human driver.
According to TechCrunch, this legal framework has made Germany one of the key hubs for testing autonomous vehicles. Based on the latest KBA data, several companies including Mobileye and Volkswagen hold permits to test autonomous vehicles in the country; but Waymo currently does not have such a permit.
However, most of these companies, including British autonomous startup Wayve and Israeli company Autobrains, hold Level 3 permits.
Level 3, or “conditional automated driving,” refers to a system that can perform all driving tasks in specified operational conditions, such as low-speed highway driving; but the driver must be ready to take control of the vehicle if needed.
London; the next battleground for robotaxis
Germany is not the only European market attracting autonomous vehicle developers. The UK, particularly London, is also becoming another battleground for robotaxis.
Waymo has said it intends to launch its commercial service in London in 2026; a move that will pit the company against Vay and its partner, Uber.
Meanwhile, Baidu, the Chinese tech giant, has also begun testing autonomous vehicles in London as part of its collaboration with Lyft and FreeNow.