Uber, the ride-hailing service, and Wayve, a developer of autonomous technology, have received the first minicab licenses in London, enabling them to provide paid self-driving taxi rides. However, for the time being, these rides will include a human safety driver.
The two companies announced plans to commence their services in the UK “later this summer” ahead of a full public rollout.
Based in San Francisco, Uber is competing with London-based Wayve as well as other firms like Waymo, owned by Google, and Baidu’s Apollo Go from China. Their advancements are being closely monitored, as London is set to become one of the first global cities where American and Chinese tech companies will operate side by side.
Uber and Wayve revealed that over 100,000 residents of London are currently on their waiting list for the self-driving taxi service.
The licensing authority, Transport for London (TfL), has issued 15 private hire vehicle licenses for Ford Mustang Mach-E cars outfitted with Wayve’s AI driving software, which includes cameras and radar for enhanced safety. TfL has confirmed that the companies meet necessary safety standards.
During the rides, a TfL-licensed private hire driver will occupy the driver’s seat to take control if needed, although the AI software is expected to operate the vehicle.
To progress to fully autonomous operations without a driver, Uber and Wayve must apply for an automated passenger services permit through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, a process overseen by the government.
TfL stated that it would oversee the vehicles’ operation and would be prepared to intervene if passenger safety is at risk.
A spokesperson for TfL emphasized, “Safety is our top priority. Any vehicle licensed to transport passengers on London’s roads must align with our Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate all fatalities and serious injuries from road collisions in the city by 2041.”
Wayve, co-founded by Alex Kendall from New Zealand, has been testing its technology in London since 2018 with safety drivers present. In previous demonstrations, the vehicle successfully navigated the busy streets of North London, though there were instances where the safety driver had to take control.
Sarah Gates, Wayve’s vice president for global affairs and assurance, remarked, “This license marks a significant step toward allowing Londoners to experience autonomous driving technology. The careful introduction of these vehicles promises to create safer, more environmentally friendly, and quieter streets. We are excited to collaborate with regulators, communities, and the public as we move closer to making autonomous rides a reality in the capital.”
Driverless taxi services are currently operational in several cities worldwide, primarily in the U.S. and China, where most software developers are based. However, U.S. companies face restrictions in China and vice versa, preventing direct competition.
In 2020, Uber halted its own self-driving technology development but has since partnered with various global firms utilizing different systems, including the Chinese company WeRide, which operates driverless taxis in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Wayve is also collaborating with Nissan to incorporate its technology into private vehicles.
Annie Duvnjak, Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility operations, stated, “This license represents a pivotal achievement in bringing autonomous rides to London through Uber. Our interest list has garnered an impressive response from Londoners eager to experience Wayve’s British-engineered autonomous driving technology.”
This announcement coincided with Uber reporting second-quarter gross bookings that exceeded expectations at $58.02 billion (£43 billion), although the company indicated that earnings for the upcoming quarter would likely fall short of Wall Street predictions.
Uber projected earnings per share between 84 and 88 cents, compared to analyst expectations of 89 cents, citing foreign exchange costs as a factor affecting booking growth.
Furthermore, the company outlined intentions to invest over $10 billion in autonomous vehicles in the coming years, although no specific timeline was provided.
