<div id="readability-page-1" class="page"><p>Alphabet (GOOGL)-owned self-driving firm Waymo is coming to the streets of London this Spring after learning how to cope with the capital's Dickensian alleyways and zebra crossings.</p><h3>Claim 50% Off TipRanks Premium</h3><ul><li>Unlock  hedge fund-level data  and  powerful investing tools  for smarter, sharper decisions  </li><li> Stay ahead of the market with  the latest news and analysis  and maximize your portfolio's potential</li></ul> <h2><strong>Pilot Service in April</strong></h2> <p>The company said a pilot robotaxi service would be launched in April, but it hopes to operate a full fleet as soon as September. That's if, as promised by the U.K. government, regulations are changed to allow driverless taxis to operate in the city by then.</p> <p>Waymo is currently mapping the streets of the capital, but the vehicles are being operated by a safety driver and are not available to hire.</p> <p>That mapping includes getting used to London's busy, narrow streets and quirks. &#34;We have been learning the nuances, such as the zebra crossings,&#34; said Ben Loewenstein, head of EU and UK policy and government affairs at Waymo.</p> <p>Zebra crossings are black-and-white road markings in the U.K. where pedestrians have right of way to cross. Cars must slow down to allow passengers to do so, but it is a case of eye contact between driver and nervous crosser rather than the use of lights to ensure it ends safely. One of the most famous zebra crossings is on Abbey Road in London and was used for the cover of the Beatles album of the same name in 1969.</p> <h2><strong>Rivals Ready to Launch</strong></h2> <p>Loewenstein was speaking at an event at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden today where Waymo unveiled one of the Jaguar cars it hopes to use in the capital.</p> <p>Waymo's cars are electric Jaguar iPACE vehicles while rivals Lyft (LYFT) and Uber (UBER) -who are also keen to launch services once the regulations change – have both chosen to partner with Chinese operator Baidu (BIDU).</p> <p>In London, Waymo will work with Moove, a fleet management firm that handles maintenance and charging for ride-hailing companies. The partnership will help manage Waymo's electric cars and local operations. Waymo's system uses radar and lidar sensors to guide vehicles on the road, and the company says it has logged over 100 million miles without human control.</p> <p>Waymo's move marks its first expansion into Europe and its second international market after Tokyo. The company already runs commercial robotaxi services in U.S. cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Austin.</p> </div>

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<p>Waymo, owned by Alphabet, is set to launch a pilot robotaxi service in London this April, with hopes for a full fleet by September, pending regulatory changes. The company is currently mapping London's streets, adapting to local driving conditions, including zebra crossings. Waymo will utilize electric Jaguar iPACE vehicles and partner with Moove for fleet management. This marks Waymo's first expansion into Europe, following its existing services in U.S. cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles.</p>

- Waymo, owned by Alphabet, plans to launch a pilot robotaxi service in London this April after mastering the city's complex roads and pedestrian crossings.  
- The company is currently mapping the streets with safety drivers in the vehicles and awaits regulatory changes by the U.K. government to operate fully by September.  
- This marks Waymo's first expansion into Europe, adding to its existing services in U.S. cities, while it collaborates with fleet management firm Moove for local operations.

Waymo Swerves Past Dickens and Zebras to Get Set for London Self-Driving Launch