Waymo, Google's driverless car division, has confirmed its self-driving cars will be fully operational by the end of 2026, assuming regulators give the go-ahead.
Waymo already operates a large fleet of robot-taxis in cities across the United States, and its London entry marks a major milestone in its global rollout.
The company says the first vehicles will arrive in the weeks ahead, starting under human supervision before transitioning to fully driverless operations.
The move has strong support from the UK government and urban regulators, signalling that London is serious about becoming a global leader in low-emission, high-tech mobility.
Waymo's cars are Jaguars while Lyft and Uber have both chosen to partner with the Chinese firm Baidu.
The government has estimated that the autonomous vehicle industry could add £42bn to the UK economy by 2035 and create nearly 40,000 new jobs.
But the move was met with a mixed response with taxi drivers and residents outside Stratford Station.
Salesman Chris Helps, 39, who has used the driverless cars abroad, said: “For me the priority would be speed because I have got quite a journey. I have to get from one side of London to the other so I would be interested in what transport would be the quickest.
“I have used the driverless cars once on holiday. The first time it was a little bit weird watching the wheel go round and not having the control. But I think I would use they when they are introduced fully.”
Ciara Holland, 39, said: “I do use the public transport all the time, especially the tube.
"The Zip cars are more interesting. But I am worried about the safety of it. I have young children, so I think it would need to be road tested for safety reasons.”
The musician added: “I have never done it before or seen them in action, so it seems scary."
Taxi driver Nazir Zaki, 61, said: “I am not happy about it. Of course it is going to affect the taxi industry. The second reason is it would be dangerous if the software is not set up properly.
“I don’t think I would lose my job, but I do worry about the future of the industry. When Uber came along it took a big chunk out of business.”
A Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson said: “Safety is our top priority, and we are interested in learning more about technologies that could potentially help deliver safety benefits for all road users.
"TfL recognises the challenge of legislating in response to changes in automated vehicle technology in a timely manner to ensure benefits are delivered and risks are mitigated.
"Legislation must set a high benchmark and consider the impact on all road users. For example, the safety ambition for automated vehicles should align with Vision Zero and support the goal of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries from collisions on London’s streets by 2041."
They added: “All cities across the UK, including London, need to understand the opportunities and risks of new technologies for their customers and transport networks and we look forward to working with Government and industry on next steps.
"We have previously responded to consultations on this legislation and will continue to monitor its progress through parliament.”
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