Alphabet's autonomous driving unit, Waymo, announced plans to launch its driverless ride-hailing service in London next year, marking its first expansion into Europe. The company intends to begin testing a small fleet of vehicles with safety drivers in the coming months across a 100-square-mile area. This move will place Waymo in direct competition with major ride-hailing platforms like Uber in the London market, as Waymo plans to operate through its own app. Commercial service is anticipated to begin after 2026, pending regulatory approval for self-driving pilots in the U.K. This expansion follows Waymo's established presence in several U.S. cities and its planned launch in Tokyo.