ROBOTAXIS
STORM WARNINGS AND SYSTEM FAILURES: WAYMO FLEET GROUNDED AGAIN
Waymo’s ambitious robotaxi rollout in San Francisco has hit another significant snag. Just days after a citywide power outage left its fleet paralysed, the company was forced to suspend all Bay Area operations due to a National Weather Service flash flood warning. While the decision prioritises safety, it underscores growing concerns regarding the vehicles' inability to navigate unpredictable environments. Last month’s power outage trans- formed the high-tech fleet into a series of stationary obstacles. Without functional traffic lights, footage captured the cabs idling in
intersections, blocking both human motorists and each other. The incident highlighted a critical flaw in the AI’s programming: “Frightened animals have a fight- or-flight response; Waymos have a stand-dumbfoundedly-in-place response.” Despite a strong overall safety record, Waymo’s presence in San Francisco remains a flashpoint for local frustration. Public sentiment soured further after a robotaxi “ran over and killed a beloved bodega cat,” adding emotional weight to technical criticisms. The vehicles have also been documented: l Driving down the wrong side of
the road.
l Getting stuck in roundabouts. l “Careening through an active police standoff.”
l Becoming “paralysed by parade.”
a
As Waymo struggles to adapt to “offbeat road scenarios,” experts are calling for a more measured approach to deployment. Jeffrey Tumlin, former CEO of San Francisco’s Municipal Transit Auth- ority, suggested the city needs to rethink the density of AVs, stating: “I think we need to be asking ‘what is a reasonable number of [AVs] to have on city streets, by time of day, by geography and weather?’”
LONDON TO BECOME GLOBAL HUB FOR ROBOTAXIS AS TECH GIANTS TARGET 2026 LAUNCH
The capital’s streets are set to become the ultimate testing ground for the future of transport as Uber and Lyft join forces with Chinese tech titan Baidu to launch fully autonomous taxi fleets in 2026. The landmark partnership will introduce Baidu’s purpose-built “Apollo Go” EVs to the UK for the first time. The move sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown with Waymo which is also targeting a 2026 public rollout in London. The initiative aims to prove that autonomous technology can master the “busy, narrow and often complex streets” of a historic European city, a significant step up from the predictable grid systems of the US and China. Baidu, which describes itself as the “world’s largest AV operator,”
PHTM JANUARY 2026
brings massive scale to the project, having already completed over 17 million cumulative rides globally. The company noted that its systems have covered more than 240 million kilometres, emphasis- ing that its RT6 models are: “...fully electric cars designed specifically for ride-hailing use. Unlike converted production cars... the RT6 has been developed from the outset to operate without a driver.” Lyft, which entered the UK market in 2025 via the acquisition of Freenow, clarified that robotaxis will not be replacing humans immediately. The company intends to operate a “hybrid network,” where AVs work alongside human- driven cars. According to Lyft, this strategy is: “
...designed to ensure London’s full
range of travel needs are met while creating new opportunities within the wider ride-hailing ecosystem.” While the ambition is high, the companies face a rigorous path to approval. Work is currently under- way with TfL and local regulators to ensure the technology meets the UK’s strict safety standards. Industry analysts suggest the arrival of these platforms marks a shift from experimental pilots to “real-world urban deployment.” If the first half of 2026 proves successful, the plan is to expand the fleet to hundreds of vehicles. London is rapidly emerging as a premier global hub for self-driving technology. Should these initiatives succeed, the sight of a robotaxi could soon turn from a futuristic curiosity into a part of daily life.
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