Waymo is preparing to test its autonomous vehicles in Madrid, Spain, as the Alphabet-owned company expands its European footprint ahead of a planned commercial robotaxi launch in 2027.
The company will begin bringing its electric Jaguar I-PACE vehicles to the Madrid region in the coming days. Testing will proceed in stages, starting with manual driving before progressing to autonomous operations with trained safety drivers behind the wheel.
Waymo confirmed that commercial robotaxi rides are not yet available in Madrid.
Phased Testing Under Spanish Guidelines
The testing programme will follow guidance from Spain’s Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT). According to Waymo, vehicle testing could take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The phased approach will allow the company to begin operating its vehicles locally before introducing autonomous driving capabilities under controlled testing conditions. The announcement did not specify when the fleet would begin driverless trials.
Waymo Expands Its European Footprint
Madrid adds to Waymo’s growing list of planned European markets. The company recently announced Munich as its first planned market in the European Union and is also preparing to launch operations in London.
Beyond Europe, Waymo is pursuing further international expansion. The company has confirmed plans to bring its robotaxi service to Toronto, Canada, in 2028.
The expansion reflects Waymo’s efforts to extend its autonomous ride-hailing operations into additional cities, although each market will require local testing and regulatory preparation before commercial services begin.
More Than 20 Million Autonomous Trips
Waymo says it has completed more than 20 million trips and accumulated over 400 million kilometres of fully autonomous driving.
Its planned Madrid launch would extend the company’s operations into Spain as it continues developing its presence across major international markets. The targeted 2027 commercial launch remains a future milestone, with testing and regulatory requirements still to be addressed.