Waymo Sets Sights on Munich for Autonomous Ride-Hailing Expansion
Munich, August 25, 2026 – Waymo, a pioneer in autonomous driving technology, has officially announced its plans to introduce its fully autonomous ride-hailing service in Munich, Germany. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in Waymo’s global expansion, bringing its proven technology, with over 20 million completed trips and hundreds of thousands of commercial rides served weekly, to a city renowned for its automotive engineering and urban mobility.
The company will adopt a rigorous, phased approach, with Waymo vehicles set to appear on Munich’s streets in the coming weeks. Initially, these vehicles will be driven manually by trained autonomous specialists. This initial phase will focus on high-definition mapping of local street networks and thorough testing to ensure the Waymo Driver seamlessly adapts to Munich’s distinct driving conditions. The goal is to open commercial ride-hailing services to the public towards the end of 2027.
Commitment to Trust, Job Creation, and Safety
Tekedra Mawakana, Waymo co-CEO, emphasized the company’s commitment to the local community. “Munich is a world-class hub for mobility and engineering, and becoming part of this city marks an important milestone in our global expansion,” said Mawakana. “As we prepare to launch, earning the community’s trust is our top priority. We look forward to investing in local fleet operations, creating high-skilled jobs, and delivering a safe, reliable service for residents and visitors alike.”
This sentiment was echoed by German officials who see Waymo’s entry as a validation of Germany’s potential as a leading location for autonomous driving innovation.
Germany’s Vision for Autonomous Driving Leadership
Christian Hirte, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Transport, highlighted Germany’s ambition to be a global leader in autonomous driving. “Autonomous driving is the key to the mobility of the future. We aim to make Germany a global leader in autonomous driving innovation and manufacturing. We have already put in place the legal framework for this,” Hirte stated. He further added, “The fact that a company like Waymo is looking to Germany highlights how attractive our market is and proves that regular autonomous mobility services can work here.”
Dr. Florian Herrmann, Head of the Bavarian State Chancellery, underscored Bavaria’s pioneering role in the future of mobility. “Autonomous driving is a key technology for the future of mobility and for the transformation of our automotive industry. Bavaria is determined to live up to its pioneering role and be an international leader in autonomous driving,” said Dr. Herrmann. He also stressed the need to expedite the transition from testing to real-world deployment by improving framework conditions and removing regulatory barriers.
Safety and Collaboration at the Core of Operations
Waymo emphasized that safety and collaboration will remain central to its operations in Munich. The company is actively engaging with local, state, and federal officials to secure the necessary regulatory approvals and ensure a responsible launch of its services in Germany. Waymo aims to complement existing public transport, cycling, and pedestrian networks.
Data from over 350 million fully autonomous kilometers demonstrates Waymo’s positive impact on road safety. The company reports 16 times fewer serious injury crashes, 14 times fewer pedestrian crashes with injury, and 6 times fewer cyclist crashes with injury compared to human drivers.
Enhanced Accessibility and Community Impact
Maik Schubert, CEO of the Schubert & Wetzel Guide Dog School, expressed enthusiasm for the enhanced accessibility autonomous vehicles will provide. “Reliable mobility is essential for blind and visually impaired people. The upcoming launch of Waymo in Germany is an exciting step toward safer mobility options while helping to address some of the barriers guide dog users face with traditional taxi and ride-hailing services,” Schubert noted.
Waymo shares Munich’s vision of sustainable, integrated urban mobility that promotes safer streets and improves accessibility for all residents and visitors.
Residents and visitors in Munich are encouraged to visit waymo.com/waymo-in-germany to sign up for updates and follow Waymo’s journey in the city.
Source: https://waymo.com/blog/2026/08/waymo-in-munich
