WAYMO is preparing to launch its robotaxi service in Madrid, with driverless journeys set to begin next year.
The company announced on Tuesday that it would begin testing its electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles on roads across the region in the coming days, marking its first expansion into Spain.
The vehicles will first be driven manually by trained specialists as Waymo collects data on local traffic, road conditions and driving behaviour.
Madrid city centre, Alcobendas and Getafe are among the first areas where the vehicles are expected to operate.
Waymo, a Google-owned company, said it was working with national, regional and local authorities to prepare for the launch, with testing taking place under the DGT’s framework for autonomous vehicles.
READ MORE: Robotaxis are coming to Spain: Google’s Waymo sets up Madrid base ahead of self-driving car trials
The company has yet to announce the price of journeys or the size of the fleet it plans to deploy in Madrid.
Waymo has already broken through in the United States where it operates commercial robotaxis in more than 15 cities – including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Phoenix.
The company says it has completed more than 20 million paid rides and provides over 500,000 journeys each week.
The expansion into Spain is part of Waymo’s ambitious plans for international expansion, with other European cities including London and Munich expected to follow suit.
The company is also planning to take its services to Tokyo next year.
Waymo says its vehicles are significantly safer than those driven by humans, with a 95 per cent drop in crashes resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
While this sounds promising, the arrival of driverless vehicles is likely to bring renewed attention to road safety, regulation and the future of the taxi industry in Spain.
Uber has also announced plans to introduce autonomous vehicles in Madrid, with a potential launch before the end of 2026.
The growing interest from technology companies signals an emerging battle over the future of urban transport in the Spanish capital.
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