Waymo has established a German subsidiary in Munich, signalling that the Alphabet-owned robotaxi company could be preparing for a future expansion into Germany.
According to filings cited by German newspaper F.A.Z., Waymo Germany GmbH was incorporated on 13 May and entered into the Munich commercial register on 15 June. The company’s stated purpose includes offering transport services with autonomous vehicles and supporting the commercial provision of such services by third parties.
Waymo has not publicly announced plans to launch robotaxi services in Germany, nor has it commented on the reported registration when contacted by Zag Daily.
German media have also reported the appearance of job advertisements seeking test drivers and vehicle trainers for autonomous vehicles in Berlin and Munich. Reports also highlighted recruitment activity linked to mobility operator Transdev, which is hiring for an autonomous driving operations manager role in Munich.
Neither the recruitment listings nor the Transdev position explicitly reference Waymo but they provide further indications that preparations for autonomous vehicle operations may be underway.
The registration gives Waymo a formal legal presence in Germany for the first time and comes as the company continues to expand beyond its core US operations.
“We’ve announced our intention to launch in over 20 cities in the near future including London, Tokyo, Nashville, Denver, Las Vegas and New York City,” Nicole Gavel, Waymo’s Head of Business Development, said at a press conference which Zag attended in London.
The company is currently testing autonomous vehicles in London as it works towards launching a commercial robotaxi service in the UK capital.
Outside of Europe, Waymo has also begun building a presence in Japan through partnerships with taxi operators in Tokyo.
At the time of publication, Waymo had not publicly announced plans for Germany. Zag Daily has contacted the company for confirmation regarding the Munich registration, the reported hiring activity and any future deployment plans in the country. We will update this story if and when Waymo responds.
