Waymo, Google's autonomous vehicle company, will soon begin operating in Madrid with a fleet of electric Jaguar I-Pace cars. Its transport service is expected for next year.
According to El Mundo, Waymo will soon start driving through the streets of Madrid with a fleet of electric Jaguar I-Pace vehicles. The company announced this in an official statement, and its goal is to offer a transport service in the capital next year.
The first cars will operate with a driver on board. They will first undergo a vehicle qualification process and adapt to the city's mobility patterns. With these tests, the company aims to map the streets and learn the traffic patterns of the region before operating with a full fleet.
Waymo's co-CEO, Tekedra Mawakana, has commented on the arrival in the capital:
"Madrid is an incredible capital of innovation and an integral part of our growing global presence. We look forward to serving the people of Madrid."
Madrid will be the sixth international city where Waymo provides service, following London, which will launch this year, Singapore, Tokyo, Toronto, and Munich. Uber and WeRide have also been operating in the region for weeks to familiarise themselves with its streets.
Waymo's European subsidiary was established last summer to host its robotaxi operations. In recent weeks, the company has added new profiles, mostly from digital businesses like Just Eat or Uber, or related to mobility.
In the United States, the company has 4,000 electric vehicles in 15 cities and exceeds 500,000 weekly trips. By 2025, it aims to quadruple its activity to 20 million trips. Until now, it primarily operated through Uber but has launched its own booking app, which has caused friction with the platform. Its competitors include Uber and Tesla.
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