Waymo Is Taking Its Robotaxis into BMW's BackyardSmith Collection/Gado - Getty ImagesWaymo is getting ready to hit Germany with its robotaxi service, as it plans to begin testing vehicles in Munich in the coming weeks before a potential commercial launch late next year.The company said its vehicles will initially be driven manually through Munich to help create high-definition maps of the city's streets. After mapping is complete, testing will begin with trained specialists behind the wheel, all as part of Waymo's way of adapting its self-driving system to local roads and traffic conditions.If testing and regulatory approvals go as planned, Waymo says it expects to begin offering fully autonomous rides to the public toward the end of 2027.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe move represents yet another step in Waymo's expansion beyond the United States, where the company has established itself as the largest commercial robotaxi operator. Waymo says it has now provided more than 20 million paid and public trips and is completing hundreds of thousands of commercial rides each week.A Waymo in Los Angeles.picture alliance - Getty Images"Munich is a world-class hub for mobility and engineering, and becoming part of this city marks an important milestone in our global expansion," Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana said.Waymo is working with local, Bavarian, and German federal officials to obtain the regulatory approvals required for commercial service. The company also plans to establish a local fleet operations center and create jobs in Munich, though the timing of such is unclear, nor are the number of people who would benefit from working with Waymo.Germany has already established a legal framework allowing Level 4 autonomous vehicles to operate in defined areas under certain conditions, making it one of Europe's more accommodating markets for commercial self-driving technology.AdvertisementAdvertisementStill, Waymo won't be the first company to offer autonomous rides in Europe. Uber, working with Croatian autonomous-driving company Verne and China's Pony.ai, launched a robotaxi service in Zagreb last week, according to Reuters, making the Croatian capital the first European city where users could book a self-driving vehicle through Uber's app.Waymo testing in London, where you cannot yet book a robotaxi ride.Matthew Chattle - Getty ImagesMunich nevertheless represents a major test. The city is home to BMW and sits at the center of one of Europe's largest automotive and technology clusters, making Waymo's arrival particularly notable as German automakers develop their own automated-driving systems.Waymo says it has gathered data from more than 215 million fully autonomous miles and claims it shows its vehicles experience fewer serious-injury crashes than human-driven vehicles. However, bear in mind the company's data was gathered in specific environments and conditions in which its autonomous system currently operates.For now, Munich residents will see Waymos with humans planted behind the wheel. If the testing and regulatory process stays on schedule, the drivers could start disappearing by late 2027.