Brent Green Party has launched a campaign calling for a pause on Waymo’s ongoing trial in London
After having councillors elected in the borough for the first time at the recent local elections (May 7), Brent Greens have launched a new campaign against the introduction of driverless taxis in London. ‘Say No To Waymo’ is calling for a pause to the ongoing ‘robotaxi’ trial, which the party claims is “a threat to the livelihood” of the capital’s 150,000 private hire drivers.
Last month, Waymo – an American autonomous driving technology company owned by Alphabet Inc, a subsidiary of Google – launched a pilot in London with the aim of operating a fully autonomous ‘robotaxi’ service later this year. However, concerns have been raised over the technology following a series of incidents.
Brent’s new Green councillors are “fiercely opposed” to London being used “as a testing ground for Silicon Valley experiments” and have called on Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan to “prioritise Londoner’s jobs and public safety” by putting the brakes on the trial.
Concerns have grown since a Waymo vehicle veered into an active crime scene in Harlesden, Brent, last month (April 22). The incident prompted two Green councillors to launch the campaign, which saw a group of residents and workers gather on Harlesden High Street last Friday (May 22).
Representative for Harlesden and Kensal Green, Cllr Amandine Alexandre, said: “The more we learn about those AI-powered vehicles and the more we are convinced that Londoners have nothing to gain from the introduction of robotaxis.
“Those oversized vehicles are clogging up our roads, collecting tons of energy consuming data and taking us one step closer to a future where human interactions become the exception rather than a rule.”
In March, New York City paused its robotaxi trials due to a lack of stakeholder support, concerns about the safety of autonomous vehicles, issues around liability, and the potential job losses for professional drivers.
The Green’s representative in Kilburn, Cllr Suzanne Gallagher, added: “We are not against innovation that improves our lives and our communities, but we are fiercely opposed to our city being used as a testing ground for Silicon Valley experiments.
“Earlier this year, New York paused Waymo’s permits and halted further driverless trials. It is time for Mayor Sadiq Khan to follow the lead of New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and prioritise Londoners’ jobs and public safety over Big Tech’s extractive business model.”
Waymo’s depot – the company’s first facility of its kind in the UK – is also located in the borough, at a facility in Park Royal that serves as the operational hub for its driverless Jaguar I-Pace fleet. Brent Council described the company’s decision to choose Brent for part of its London operation as “a major vote of confidence” in the borough.
Brent Council Leader, Cllr Muhammed Butt, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that it would be “irresponsible” for the local authority not to engage with a global business that “is putting significant investment into Park Royal”. But he added: “Engagement is not a blank cheque: it is how we raise residents’ concerns and ensure Brent’s voice is heard.”
The App Drivers and Couriers Union (ADCU) – which represents workers in the platform economy – said the fear of losing their income is “a constant and growing worry at the back of drivers’ minds”.
ADCU General Secretary added: “London cannot afford a tech-first, people-last experiment. Any move toward automation must start with rigorous, transparent safety standards, real-world environmental safeguards that reduce total vehicle miles, and protections against oversupply. Most importantly, there must be a just transition for drivers.
“That means legally enforceable job security, funded retraining, income guarantees during changeover, and a seat at the table for worker-led unions. Our message is simple: no rollout without public consent. And no future that leaves drivers behind.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor said Sir Sadiq Khan is “determined to harness the opportunities” presented by new and emerging technologies, including automated vehicles (AV) but also recognises “the potential negative impact” on jobs and the economy and will make sure it is introduced “in a way that works for all Londoners”.
The vehicles are not currently taking passengers, they are mapping the streets whilst being operated by a safety driver. When the service launches to paying passengers, there will be no human at the wheel. Waymo told the LDRS that scepticism “is natural” but claims that this “quickly fades” once people get accustomed to them.
A spokesperson for the company added: “The UK’s Automated Vehicles Act 2024 establishes that when a vehicle is operating fully autonomously, liability rests with the manufacturer or software developer.
“We are engaging with community organisations, borough leaders, and city officials on an ongoing basis, to answer questions and address community concerns. We have also established an early dialogue with Labour representatives on specific policy areas.”
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