Waymo wants to unleash robotaxis on DC, NYC, and London in 2026

2026 is when Waymo wants its driverless cars to roll into Washington, New York, and London—because nothing says “public safety” like adding software updates to traffic.

They already launched paid robotaxi service in San Francisco and Los Angeles, and now they’re reportedly graduating from “test zones” to “major-city reality.” Translation: they want to stop playing in the kiddie pool and start doing cannonballs in the ocean of lawsuits.

DC is the city where people can’t agree on a budget but can absolutely agree on a subpoena. NYC is a 24/7 contact sport where a yellow cab will attempt to merge into your bloodstream. London has roads designed by a medieval drunk guy pulling a cart. Perfect places to teach a car how to be alive.

Waymo will frame this as “safer streets” and “reliable mobility.”

And don’t worry, regulators will “work closely with industry partners.”

Meanwhile, if you’re a driver—rideshare, cab, delivery—this is your friendly reminder that your job is considered “innovation clutter.” If you’re a rider, congrats: your commute is about to include a privacy policy, an arbitration clause, and a car that might decide the bike lane is “optional.”

The money’s obvious: autonomous fleets don’t unionize, don’t call in sick, and don’t record the CEO saying something cancelable in the front seat. They just generate trips, data, and the warm glow of plausible deniability when something goes sideways.