News
Waymo prepares for its first autonomous trials on the streets of Madrid
Waymo will begin testing its vehicles in Madrid over the next few days. Initially, they will be driven by operators collecting data. Passenger rides are planned for 2027. A commercial driverless service will require new authorisations.
Current authorisations allow for testing, but not yet for offering a commercial driverless service. That is the limit within which Waymo will begin operating in the Comunidad de Madrid over the coming days.
The initial rollout will cover Madrid city. It will also reach Alcobendas y Getafe, with routes running both during the day and at night.
The vehicles will be white Jaguar I-PACE models. They are equipped with cameras and radars; the sensors complete the system that detects pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles.
At first, there will be drivers behind the wheel to gather information about the streets and traffic. Autonomous tests will follow, still with a safety specialist in the car.
Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving company, plans to carry passengers in 2027. It has not yet specified an exact date or how much the service would cost.
The company will not be the only one testing this technology in the region. Uber y WeRide also have authorisation; Avomo is joining the trials.
For autonomous vehicles, current permits are limited to trials, and new authorisations will be needed to operate commercially without a driver.
The announcement covers two distinct phases: the initial data collection and supervised autonomous driving. This sequence defines the scope of the trials in the region. During the autonomous phase, a safety specialist will remain present. The plan for passenger trips in 2027 does not yet have a specific date.