Waymo is also preparing a robotaxi service in Berlin

The U.S. company Waymo is preparing to launch its robotaxi service not only in Munich but also apparently in Berlin. A trial operation could start still this year, according to the Berlin city administration. Waymo itself has not yet confirmed this.

Waymo’s Robotaxi in San Francisco (Archival image)

Image: Waymo

Just a few days ago, Waymo—the company spun off from Google’s Self-Driving Car Project—expanded its robotaxi service to three more cities: Denver, San Diego, and Tampa. This brings Waymo’s robotaxis to 14 U.S. cities in total. Expansion into Europe is also on the horizon: in addition to London, Waymo recently confirmed plans to launch services in Munich as well. The first test drives are set to begin there within the next few weeks, initially with human drivers at the wheel, before commercial service launches by the end of 2027.

A joint investigation by “manager magazin” and “Spiegel” reveals that Waymo is also preparing to launch in Berlin. Internal documents from the Berlin Senate administration show that just a few weeks ago, Waymo planned to “map the Berlin area using up to 50 vehicles in trial mode and test these specially equipped cars on the streets this year,” according to “manager magazin.” The commercial launch of the service was supposed to take place as early as 2027, per the documents.

Waymo refuses to confirm launch in Berlin

For now, Waymo neither confirms the preparations for its launch in Berlin nor the timeline: In response to “manager magazin,” Waymo merely stated that it wants to “bring the service to other locations across Germany very much,” but has nothing official to announce at this time.

But a denial sounds different. That same day, a spokesperson for the Berlin city administration told „Manager Magazin“ that talks with Waymo were already „well advanced.“ From the administration’s perspective, it is also „possible“ for Waymo to begin trial operations this year.

According to the report, Waymo was said to be the first company to approach Berlin’s city administration with a concrete plan for scaling up vehicle deployment and a highly detailed business plan. Such approval is entirely in line with the capital’s interests: „We are open to technology and have a vested interest in testing such robotaxis on Berlin’s streets,“ said a spokesperson for the city’s transportation department.

To actually operate in Germany, Waymo needs a series of approvals. First, it requires a testing permit for Level 4 driving from the Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA), followed later by a regular operating license from this same authority, which the KBA has yet to issue to any company. It also needs approval from the relevant state authority for the intended area of operation. Finally, it requires a commercial license under the Passenger Transport Act, which currently only regulates taxis and driver-driven rental cars, not driverless vehicles. There is plenty of paperwork for Waymo before it can start operating in Munich and/or Berlin.