Waymo has partnered with Allianz Partners to develop insurance, claims and safety systems for its planned European robotaxi operations, starting in Germany.
The collaboration gives the US autonomous driving company access to Allianz’s insurance and vehicle safety expertise as it prepares to take its fully driverless ride-hailing service into Europe. The companies said the model could later be extended to other European markets.
The partnership will cover four areas: insurance and risk management, digital claims handling, safety research and vehicle recovery. The insurance work will cover motor fleet insurance, general and product liability programmes, and new insurance models designed for autonomous mobility platforms.
The collaboration brings together Waymo’s autonomous driving technology with Allianz’s insurance, mobility assistance and vehicle safety expertise. Allianz Partners will draw on expertise from Allianz Center for Technology, Allianz Versicherungs-AG, Allianz Commercial and Solvd Group.
“As we advance our commercial rollout in Europe, building the right operational foundation is just as critical as the technology behind the Waymo Driver,” said Tilia Gode, Waymo’s Head of Risk & Insurance. “Teaming up with Allianz Partners allows us to pair our proven U.S. safety record and commercial experience with world-class European risk and claims expertise.”
The companies will also work on autonomous vehicle safety, claims trends and risk modelling. Allianz’s Center for Technology will contribute crash analysis and vehicle safety expertise, with the possibility of publishing joint research once operational data becomes available.
The agreement comes as Waymo builds out its European presence. The company has already begun testing autonomous vehicles in London, where it is preparing for a commercial service, and has announced plans to launch in Munich in 2027.
Waymo has also established a German subsidiary in Munich and registered entities in France, Spain and the Netherlands this year. Those filings do not by themselves confirm deployment plans, but they come alongside the company’s stated intention to expand its autonomous ride-hailing service internationally.
Germany is a key part of Waymo’s European plans. The company said last month that it would begin testing in Munich ahead of a planned commercial launch at the end of 2027. Waymo is working with German authorities to secure the required approvals before launching its commercial service.
Insurance is an important part of that operational framework because autonomous services change how responsibility for vehicle-related risks is assessed and managed. The companies will also explore vehicle recovery solutions tailored to autonomous fleets, alongside research into safety, claims trends and risk modelling.
