Self-driving taxis will be seen across London from 2026, with passengers being driven around the capital without a human in the driving seat.
Waymo has confirmed that it will bring its fleet of autonomous taxis to London next year in its first international expansion outside of the United States.
The Google-backed company said it would "lay the groundwork" for its services alongside fleet operations partner Moove, as well as local and national leaders.
Waymo is already operational in the UK, with international engineering hubs stationed in London and Oxford.
The California-based brand is also partnered with Jaguar Land Rover, with the popular electric Jaguar I-Pace forming the basis of Waymo's fleet.
Commenting on the launch, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "I'm delighted that Waymo intends to bring their services to London next year, under our proposed piloting scheme.
"Boosting the AV sector will increase accessible transport options, alongside bringing jobs, investment, and opportunities to the UK.
"Cutting-edge investment like this will help us deliver our mission to be world leaders in new technology and spearhead national renewal that delivers real change in our communities."
READ MORE: Self-driving vehicles to debut on UK roads within months as Labour prepares to launch new rules
Waymo will launch in London next year
|REUTERS
Waymo's vehicles are already commonplace across the United States, with more than 100 million fully autonomous miles being driven on public roads.
The Waymo Driver has also provided more than 10 million paid riders across Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta and Austin.
In addition to London, Waymo's self-driving taxis are also set to launch in Miami, Florida, and the US capital, Washington DC.
Tekedra Mawakana, co-CEO of Waymo, said the company was "thrilled" to bring the self-driving taxis to the UK, praising its reliability and safety.
Waymo also operates in a number of major cities across the United States
|WAYMO
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Waymo utilises a fleet of electric Jaguar I-Pace models
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She continued, saying: "Waymo is making roads safer and transportation more accessible where we operate.
"We've demonstrated how to responsibly scale fully autonomous ride-hailing, and we can’t wait to expand the benefits of our technology to the United Kingdom."
Waymo will also be instrumental in meeting London Mayor Sadiq Khan's target of eliminating all road deaths and injuries by 2041 across the capital.
The Mayor's Vision Zero project aims to improve road safety in the city, with the technology involved in 12 times fewer injury-causing collisions with pedestrians compared to humans.
The introduction of Waymo to UK streets could also provide a huge benefit for people with blind and partially sighted people.
Robin Spinks, head of inclusive design at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), described it as "the potential for the dawn of a new era" for independent mobility options.
He said: "As someone who’s been severely sight impaired since birth, I've long hoped for the day when technology can safely enable spontaneous autonomous travel.
"Autonomous vehicle systems should be accessible to everyone and we're working with the community and our industry partners to ensure that the rollout of this technology prioritises the safety and diverse needs of riders and pedestrians."