Waymo has partnered with Allianz Partners to build the insurance, claims, and safety-research infrastructure for its European robotaxi expansion, which begins with planned deployments in London and Munich. The company says the arrangement is meant to give it a scalable risk and claims foundation across the continent as it moves beyond a U.S. service that now handles more than half a million paid trips per week. Waymo frames the deal as part of a deliberate approach to expanding its rider-only service into new regions through local partners.
Highlights
- Two launch cities: Waymo’s European rollout starts with initial deployment plans in London and Munich.
- Three workstreams: Allianz Partners will cover fleet insurance and liability, digital claims handling, and joint safety research with the Allianz Center for Technology.
- Safety data cited: Waymo reports a 16x reduction in serious-injury crashes compared with human drivers in the cities where it operates.
- U.S. scale: The company says its commercial service delivers more than 500,000 paid trips weekly.
What Will Allianz Partners Provide for Waymo in Europe?
According to Waymo, the partnership covers three areas of support for its European fleets:
- Insurance and risk solutions: Coverage and risk management tailored to an autonomous fleet, including fleet insurance, liability protection, and new insurance models designed for autonomous mobility.
- Claims ecosystem: Digital claims handling and management.
- Research and safety collaboration: Joint research initiatives with the Allianz Center for Technology covering crash analysis, safety modeling, and risk evaluation.
The two companies also plan to explore additional areas of collaboration over time, including operational solutions to streamline vehicle recovery for autonomous fleets.
Operational Backbone Alongside the Technology
Waymo says a strong operational backbone — including a comprehensive risk, insurance, and digital claims infrastructure — is as critical to a reliable service as the autonomous driving technology itself. The company points to its real-world safety data, which it says shows a 16x reduction in serious-injury crashes relative to human drivers in its operating cities, as the basis for what it calls a responsible, scaled deployment.
The Allianz arrangement follows the partner-based model Waymo has used in the U.S., where Moove manages fleet operations for the company in Phoenix and Miami, and where its safety case and remote-assistance programs passed third-party audits by TÜV SÜD.
“Autonomous mobility is one of the most significant shifts our industry will navigate in the years ahead. Waymo’s technology leadership, combined with Allianz’s global expertise in insurance, assistance, and vehicle safety, allows us to build a comprehensive ecosystem that gives operators and passengers confidence at every stage of the journey,” said Tomas Kunzmann, CEO of Allianz Partners.
“As we advance our commercial rollout in Europe, building the right operational foundation is just as critical as the technology behind the Waymo Driver. 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, ensuring we scale reliably and responsibly from day one,” said Tilia Gode, Head of Risk & Insurance at Waymo.
Waymo describes international expansion of autonomous ride-hailing as a deliberate process, and says working with Allianz Partners gives it the local expertise and operational capacity to introduce the Waymo Driver in Europe as its footprint grows.
