Waymo prepares robotaxi service in Madrid, aiming for first riders in 2027

Phased rollout in Madrid

Waymo says it is laying the groundwork to bring its driverless ride service to Spain, starting with the Community of Madrid. The company aims to welcome its first passengers in 2027, and Madrid will be its first region in the country. Its electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles are on their way and are expected to start circulating on local streets in the coming weeks. The rollout is phased, beginning with manual driving to gather road and urban data, followed by testing in which a specialist behind the wheel supervises the car, and finally fully driverless service in 2027.

“Madrid will be the first Waymo region in Spain, which marks the beginning of a long-term commitment by the company in the country.”

Vehicles and regulatory approvals

The trials run under the rules of the Directorate-General of Traffic (DGT) for Level 4 autonomous vehicle trials, Instrucción VEH 2025/07. Reports say the cars hold the authorizations needed to drive legally on public roads in Madrid capital, Alcobendas and Getafe, both by day and by night. All vehicles will carry red plates, a temporary format granted to automotive-linked companies so cars without standard registration can circulate in a restricted way. The robotaxis use the fifth generation of the Waymo Driver system, with lidar sensors, radar and 29 cameras giving a 360-degree view around the vehicle. Before a car drives itself in any area, Waymo builds a highly detailed map that includes lane markers, stop signs, curbs and crossings, so the system does not rely on GPS alone. The company will begin with a small initial fleet and plans to scale up progressively.

Safety claims and track record

Waymo says it had accumulated more than 20 million paid trips by the end of 2025, four times the total it recorded in 2024, and that it now offers more than 500,000 paid trips a week. Europa Press reports that the Waymo Driver has covered more than 483 million kilometers fully autonomously in ride-hailing service, while El País cites more than 450 million kilometers on public roads. Comparing its record with human drivers over more than 400 million kilometers of rider-only driving, Waymo reports 95% fewer crashes with serious or fatal injuries, 93% fewer pedestrian collisions with injuries and 86% fewer cyclist collisions with injuries, regardless of fault. El País also notes that 1,119 people died in interurban road crashes in Spain in 2025.

Fleet ambitions and competition

Waymo already runs paid rides in 15 US cities, including Los Angeles, Miami and the San Francisco Bay Area. Semafor, citing people familiar with the matter, reports that the fleet of about 4,000 robotaxis would grow to 8,000 by the end of 2026 and 20,000 by the end of 2027, and Waymo declined to comment. The plan follows a $5B loan in October 2026, the company's first debt deal, with lenders including PIMCO, Blackstone and Sixth Street. Much of the growth relies on the Ojai van, built on Zeekr cars made by Geely in China, which Waymo fits with its own system at a factory in Mesa, Arizona.

Reported current fleet4,000

End of 2026 target8,000

End of 2027 target20,000

Reported current fleet

4000 robotaxis

End of 2026 target

8000 robotaxis

End of 2027 target

20000 robotaxis

Data from the article text

Open questions in Spain

Uber plans to operate in Madrid by the end of 2026, and WeRide and Uber already hold Spain's first permit for driverless cars. In the first stage, professionals will be on board the Waymo vehicles, and the company also plans to familiarize emergency services with its technology. No specific launch date has been announced, and fares have not been detailed. The fleet's expansion comes after Waymo paused service in five US cities in May because its cars kept driving into flooded roads.