Waymo Plans Driverless Taxis in Munich by Late 2027, Its First European City

Key points

• Waymo announced plans on Tuesday to launch public robotaxi rides in Munich, Germany, by the end of 2027.
• Munich will be Waymo's first city in the European Union, following earlier international announcements in London and Tokyo.
• Waymo currently operates driverless rides in 11 US cities and is working to expand to 19 more.
• As of March 2026, Waymo's vehicles had completed nearly 221 million fully autonomous miles, meaning miles driven with no human at the wheel.
• The company plans to begin "phased" testing in Munich within the next few weeks, focused on building detailed street maps and training local staff.

Waymo, the self-driving car company owned by Google's parent Alphabet, is heading to Europe. Tuesday's announcement: driverless taxi rides in Munich, Germany, before the end of 2027, making it the first EU city to get the service.

Testing kicks off in the next few weeks. Engineers will spend that time building high-definition street maps, training local safety specialists, and adjusting the car's software to handle Munich's distinct driving conditions, which differ from the wide American roads the system knows best.

Why Munich, and why now?

Munich is Waymo's third announced international city. The company says it picked Munich for its reputation as a hub for car manufacturing and engineering talent.

"Munich is a world-class hub for mobility and engineering, and becoming part of this city marks an important milestone in our global expansion," Waymo co-chief executive Tekedra Mawakana said in a company blog post.

Back home in the US, Waymo already runs driverless rides in 11 cities. Last month it announced plans to add San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver and Tampa, with 19 further cities in the pipeline. As of March 2026, the fleet had logged nearly 221 million fully autonomous miles. Europe's broader self-driving push isn't Waymo's alone to make: we reported in August that Uber and Pony.ai were planning 2,000 autonomous taxis across Europe and the Middle East, starting from a foothold in Croatia.

What does this mean for ordinary people in Munich?

Nothing changes yet. The next few weeks are about data collection and staff training, not passenger rides. Public access is targeted for late 2027, and Waymo hasn't released pricing or pickup zones.

When rides do launch, passengers can expect the same setup Waymo uses in the US: a standard car operated entirely by sensors and software, monitored remotely, nobody behind the wheel.

Common questions

Is Waymo's technology actually safe enough for European roads?

Waymo's 221 million autonomous miles give regulators a large body of safety data to examine. European roads bring their own challenges, though: tighter lanes and unfamiliar traffic conventions. That's precisely why Waymo is spending most of 2026 and 2027 mapping and testing before any passenger sits in the back seat.

Will this affect the cost of taxis in Munich?

Too early to say. Waymo hasn't released fares for Munich, and a single operator entering a market rarely moves prices overnight. Competition and local regulation will shape what passengers eventually pay.