Waymo says it will launch driverless ride-hailing services in Germany by the end of 2027, beginning with Munich. The announcement marks Waymo’s first planned expansion into the European Union and its third planned international market outside the United States.
The outlets describe a phased approach. Waymo is preparing through local testing, including high-definition mapping of Munich’s street network and the use of safety drivers as the service progresses toward full deployment. One report also notes that Waymo is setting up or expanding subsidiaries in European countries as part of this preparation.
Context differs slightly across coverage. Bloomberg and CNBC focus on the timing and the significance of Germany as Waymo’s first EU market. Engadget similarly highlights Munich as the starting point in 2027. Slashdot adds that vehicles are expected to be manually driven initially and references Germany’s broader regulatory environment, including approval for autonomous vehicles in approved geographical areas granted in 2021.
