Robotaxis in Madrid: Waymo Tests Soon, Uber Is Already Testing, Bolt Targets 2027

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Robotaxis in Madrid: Waymo Tests Soon, Uber Is Already Testing, Bolt Targets 2027.

Waymo is coming to Madrid in the next few days – initially in test mode. The Alphabet subsidiary plans to deploy driverless vehicles there as part of a testing operation. Further tests for autonomous mobility have therefore been announced in the Spanish capital.

At Uber, testing is already underway. According to Expansión, the company is active in Madrid. The headline broadly says that Google and Uber are now operating in Madrid; the body text is more precise about the sequence: Waymo is starting shortly, while Uber is already testing.

For you, this distinction is important: Currently and in the near term, testing is the focus, while for 2027, service launches are planned. The report therefore does not describe a joint launch of all three services in the next few days.

Waymo Starts in Madrid Explicitly in Test Mode

The report dated 21 October 2026 explicitly identifies Waymo as an Alphabet subsidiary and announces its Madrid deployment in the next few days. The qualifier “in test mode,” however, clearly sets the current step apart: It is not described as the regular launch of the robotaxi service.

Autonomous driving is therefore coming into focus in Madrid very soon. The report, however, specifies neither the scope of the tests nor how individual trips will work. For you, this means: Waymo vehicles may soon become visible, without this already implying a permanently available passenger service.

Uber Is Already Testing, Waymo Is Starting Shortly

Unlike Waymo, Uber is already testing in Madrid, according to the source. The distinction makes the report more precise on this point than its headline: A launch in the next few days is not the same as a testing phase that is already underway.

For context, it is not only the providers playing a role in Madrid that matters. The phase they are at is also decisive. Waymo is just ahead of the testing phase announced there, while Uber is already testing.

2027 Is the Planned Joint Launch Year for Three Providers

For the three companies, the report gives a clear shared timetable: Waymo, Uber and Bolt plan to launch their driverless services in 2027. This puts the focus on the announced service launch, while some testing phases in Madrid are already underway and others are imminent.

At Bolt, the timing is unambiguous. The report does not name Bolt as a provider already active in Madrid. Bolt's service launch is planned for 2027. This clearly separates Uber's current testing operations, Waymo's imminent test launch and Bolt's service launch planned for 2027.

At Waymo, the attribution is also important: The report names Waymo as an Alphabet subsidiary. It does not broadly attribute the division developed by Google to Google itself. For Uber and Bolt, it speaks of their respective planned services.

What Is Taking Shape in Madrid

With Waymo's imminent test launch and Uber's already ongoing tests, autonomous driving is coming into sharper focus in Madrid. If you live in Madrid or are visiting the city, you may soon see more driverless vehicles – initially as part of the tests.

The practical difference between the current and imminent tests and the service launch planned for 2027 nevertheless remains crucial. In the next few days, the focus will be mainly on the presence of autonomous vehicles; the actual launch of all three services is slated for 2027.

What the Report Does Not Yet Answer

The report clearly states Waymo's imminent test launch, Uber's already ongoing tests and the planned 2027 service launch of all three services. The published brief, however, provides no information on prices, exact operating areas, vehicle numbers or technical standards for the planned robotaxi services.

Therefore, autonomous driving in Madrid should not yet be equated with a fully established robotaxi service equally available to everyone. The report documents the entry into a phase in which Waymo's and Uber's autonomous vehicles will become visible in Madrid and all three providers plan to launch their services in 2027.

For You, 2027 Is the Key Date

Madrid is set to become the stage for the robotaxi race: Waymo is due to begin testing in the next few days, Uber is already testing, and the launches of Waymo, Uber and Bolt services have been announced for 2027. Anyone who wants to follow the development should therefore distinguish between testing in Madrid and the service launches planned for 2027.

Find the full report with the stated timetables at Expansión.