US self-driving car company Waymo said Thursday it is working with UK partners to launch driverless robotaxis in London, which are expected to begin operating later this year.
London would mark the first foray into Europe for Waymo, owned by Google parent Alphabet and already present in a growing number of US cities.
The approvals are dependant on when a new law, the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act, is implemented.
Self-driving vehicles would undergo "rigorous" tests to prove they are at least as safe, competent and careful as human drivers, before being allowed on UK roads, the government said.
The government estimated that the self-driving vehicle industry could create thousands of jobs and add billions of pounds to the UK economy by 2035.
Local Transport minister Lillian Greenwood praised Waymo's planned rollout on social media Thursday.
"Their intention to bring automated passenger services to London under our proposed piloting scheme is a vote of confidence in our AV Act and could transform road safety and accessibility," she wrote on X.
Waymo already has dozens of vehicles operating in London with a safety driver present for mapping and data collection purposes ahead of the launch of pilot self-driving schemes later this year.Â
California-based Waymo partnered with UK-based Jaguar Land Rover in 2018 to develop a self-driving electric car.
"Over the coming months we'll work closely with our partners to invest in the operations infrastructure and personnel that will support our service, and continue fostering relationships with communities around the city," said Nicole Gavel, head of global business development and strategic partnerships at Waymo.Â
"We're committed to transparent, safety-first operations, and we can't wait for Londoners to ride."
Rival companies are lining up to join the fray.Â
Ride-hailing giant Uber has announced plans to launch driverless taxis in London with UK firm Wayve, whilst Chinese internet giant Baidu will launch a UK robotaxi service on rideshare app Lyft.Â
Steve McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association, which represents London's more than 10,000 black cab drivers, said that robotaxis are not as autonomous "as sold" because they have human agents ready to step in remotely when things go wrong.Â
"What will happen with lost property, sick passengers, change of routes etc is a bit of a mystery as is the viability of the business model," he told AFP.
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...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT TO
NOON CST SATURDAY...
...EXTREME COLD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY MORNING...
* WHAT...For the Cold Weather Advisory, very cold wind chills as low
as 1 expected in the north to 10 to 15 in the southeast. For the
Extreme Cold Watch, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 1 above
possible in the north to 5 to 10 in the southeast.
* WHERE...Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun,
Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas,
Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lee, Lowndes,
Macon, Marengo, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph,
Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa,
Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston Counties.
* WHEN...For the Cold Weather Advisory, from midnight Friday Night
to Saturday morning. For the Extreme Cold Watch, from Saturday
afternoon through Sunday morning.
* IMPACTS...Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin
is exposed to these temperatures. An extended period of
subfreezing temperatures could cause pipes to burst.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must
go outside.
Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure
portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills
inside.
If you do not have heat in your home or lack shelter, you can call
211 or visit 211connectsalabama.org for assistance locating
appropriate shelter from the cold.
To prevent freezing and possible bursting of pipes they should be
wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a
hat, and gloves.
&&
...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT TO
NOON CST SATURDAY...
...EXTREME COLD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH
SUNDAY MORNING...
* WHAT...For the Cold Weather Advisory, very cold wind chills as low
as 1 expected in the north to 10 to 15 in the southeast. For the
Extreme Cold Watch, dangerously cold wind chills as low as 1 above
possible in the north to 5 to 10 in the southeast.
* WHERE...Autauga, Barbour, Bibb, Blount, Bullock, Calhoun,
Chambers, Cherokee, Chilton, Clay, Cleburne, Coosa, Dallas,
Elmore, Etowah, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Jefferson, Lee, Lowndes,
Macon, Marengo, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Pike, Randolph,
Russell, Shelby, St. Clair, Sumter, Talladega, Tallapoosa,
Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston Counties.
* WHEN...For the Cold Weather Advisory, from midnight Friday Night
to Saturday morning. For the Extreme Cold Watch, from Saturday
afternoon through Sunday morning.
* IMPACTS...Frostbite and hypothermia will occur if unprotected skin
is exposed to these temperatures. An extended period of
subfreezing temperatures could cause pipes to burst.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Dress in layers including a hat, face mask, and gloves if you must
go outside.
Keep pets indoors as much as possible.
Make frequent checks on older family, friends, and neighbors. Ensure
portable heaters are used correctly. Do not use generators or grills
inside.
If you do not have heat in your home or lack shelter, you can call
211 or visit 211connectsalabama.org for assistance locating
appropriate shelter from the cold.
To prevent freezing and possible bursting of pipes they should be
wrapped, drained, or allowed to drip slowly.
Use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a
hat, and gloves.
&&
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