Waymo plans to launch its robotaxi service in Germany in 2027

Waymo, the Google sister company focused on autonomous driving, is maintaining its strategy of expanding into new cities, not only in the United States but also in Europe. While in North America it has just started operations in Denver, San Diego and Tampa, already being present in a total of fourteen American cities, in Europe it is beginning to take positions.

Along with the launch of its robotaxi service in London, already announced some time ago, the company has recently confirmed that its driverless vehicles will also soon arrive in the German city of Munich. Over the coming weeks, tests with a safety driver at the wheel will begin, with the aim of launching the commercial driverless service in 2027.

Waymo’s expansion in Germany will not, however, be limited to the city of Munich. Although the company has not yet officially confirmed it, everything points to Waymo’s robotaxis also arriving in the near future in Berlin, the German capital.

A joint investigation by two well-known German media outlets has brought to light some internal documents from the Berlin Senate Administration, which outline very recent plans to map the city with up to fifty vehicles in test mode, so they can drive its streets before 2026 ends. The commercial launch would take place, as in Bavaria, in 2027.

Waymo targets the German market

For the time being, Waymo has limited itself to saying that it would like to bring its robotaxi service to more German cities, without specifying timetables or destinations. The Berlin city government, on the other hand, admits that the talks are “very advanced” and that a trial this same year is possible. According to the German media, Waymo has been the first company in the sector to present a concrete fleet-scaling plan and a detailed business model. The German capital has declared itself technologically neutral, with a genuine interest in testing these vehicles on its streets.

The regulatory path will not be short, however, for Waymo. The company must obtain a level 4 test permit from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), an ordinary operating licence that this body has not yet granted to anyone, the authorisation of the corresponding Land for the operating area and, finally, a commercial licence under the Passenger Transport Act, designed for taxis and rental cars with a driver, not for vehicles without a person at the wheel. Before operating commercially in Munich or Berlin, Waymo will have to overcome all these obstacles. No joke.