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American firm Waymo has revealed that its driverless cabs will be operational for use on London's thoroughfares starting next year.

London Becomes First European City for Self-Driving Cab Service.

The UK capital will be established as the first European city to launch an driverless taxi service, similar to those currently familiar in San Francisco and several American urban centers utilizing Waymo's cutting-edge technology.

First Operations to Start with Safety Drivers.

Waymo announced that its fleet are currently traveling to London and will start navigating on the capital's streets in the coming weeks with experienced operators in control.

Waymo – originally established as a derivative from Google's self-driving car program and part of the larger corporate umbrella – explained it would increase operations and partner with the UK transport authorities and London's transport agency to secure the necessary approvals to deliver fully autonomous services by 2026.

Expanding Interest in Self-Driving Mobility Across London.

Additional organizations, including Uber and the British tech company Wayve, have also revealed their own intentions to pilot self-driving cabs in the city next year.

This comes after the government officials announcing it would speed up guidelines permitting public trials to occur before laws enabling driverless transport is enacted in full.

“It is exciting that Waymo plans to launch their offerings to London next year, under our planned piloting scheme,” stated the government minister, Heidi Alexander.

“Boosting the AV market will improve available mobility choices in addition to creating employment, investment, and prospects to the UK. Advanced support like this will assist in achieving our goal to be global pioneers in new technology and lead national renewal.”

Full Rollout Anticipated After Regulatory Framework Comes into Force.

A more extensive rollout of autonomous vehicles is expected in the UK after the related legislation is fully implemented in late 2027.

The Company's Existing Ties in the United Kingdom and Beyond.

Waymo presently has ties to Britain after establishing its inaugural European research base in Oxford in 2019.

It is additionally introducing services in Tokyo using Jaguar Land Rover eco-friendly cars, marking its only other existing venture outside the US.

“We've demonstrated how to safely expand completely driverless transport solutions, and we are eager to bring the positive impacts of our technology to the Britain,” said Tekedra Mawakana, adding that the technology was “making roads safer and transportation more available”.

Proven Experience in the US.

Waymo launched its self-driving cabs in 2020 and currently states it has carried in excess of a vast number of riders in the United States.

In spite of some troubling occurrences, Waymo asserted that evidence showed that vehicles driven by drivers were involved in incidents that injured pedestrians at a much higher rate than its self-driving vehicles.