US robotaxi firm Waymo plans to launch in Germany

Self-driving car company Waymo said Tuesday it will launch its robotaxis in the German city of Munich next year, marking the US group's first foray into the European Union.

Waymo, a subsidiary of Google parent Alphabet, will in the coming weeks start mapping the city's streets and conducting tests with specialist drivers at the wheel.

Commercial ride-hailing will be offered to the public at the end of 2027, the company said in a statement.

The firm, whose robotaxis currently operate in several US cities, is also planning to expand to London and Tokyo this year.

"Munich is a world-class hub for mobility and engineering, and becoming part of this city marks an important milestone in our global expansion," said Waymo co-chief executive Tekedra Mawakana.

Florian Herrmann, a minister in the Bavaria state government, welcomed the news.

"Autonomous driving is a key technology for the future of mobility and for the transformation of our automotive industry," he said.

Bavaria, of which Munich is the capital, is a traditional centre of Germany's car industry, home to BMW and numerous auto suppliers.

But the sector is facing an unprecedented crisis as it battles Chinese competition, a tricky transition to electric vehicles and weak demand.

Waymo is the latest firm to launch trials in Europe, where uptake of robotaxi services has been much slower than in the United States and China.

Chinese and US firms have announced trials in places including Croatia, London and Madrid.