London residents are now able to request self-driving taxis for the first time, following the integration of Wayve’s autonomous vehicles into the Uber app on Thursday.
However, the likelihood of obtaining a robotaxi on demand is quite low at this stage, as only 15 vehicles have received licensing. This number pales in comparison to over 100,000 private hire vehicles operating in the city, which includes a similar number of Uber users who have signed up for autonomous rides.
Each of these autonomous vehicles will still be accompanied by a licensed human driver in the front seat, prepared to take over control if necessary.
Last month, Transport for London granted Uber and the UK-based tech firm Wayve approval to operate their modified Ford Mustang cars as private hire vehicles, although these still require a safety driver to oversee operations.
To achieve full approval for vehicles operating autonomously without a safety driver, a separate assessment must be conducted by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and this is unlikely to occur within this year.
Nevertheless, the launch on Thursday signifies an important development, positioning Uber ahead in the competition among tech firms to introduce driverless taxis in London, a key market for broader expansion across Europe. Other companies, such as Waymo, owned by Google, and the Chinese firm Baidu, are also conducting tests of their robotaxis in the UK capital.
Wayve’s CEO and co-founder, Alex Kendall, expressed pride in introducing the company’s AI Driver technology to the public in London, which he described as “our home city and one of the most complex driving environments in the world.”
Kendall acknowledged that while the technology is still evolving, he is confident that services without a safety driver will eventually be offered, although he refrained from specifying a timeline: “I don’t want to put a timeline on it, but we’re pushing as fast as we can.”
He also mentioned that Wayve plans to transition to “scalable manufacturer-produced vehicles,” which includes new Nissan Leaf robotaxis featuring their technology, and emphasized the need to “validate the safety metrics on that platform” along with obtaining regulatory approval.
“We’re working on all three in parallel. As soon as they come together, we’ll launch fully driverless services,” Kendall stated.
Wayve’s self-driving technology utilizes an AI learning model, differing from the mapping techniques employed by competitors like Waymo.
During a recent autonomous test drive with the Guardian in Westminster, the experience went smoothly, with Kendall noting the vehicle’s ability to maneuver and re-park after stopping in front of obstructive gates. “That was quite human-like—really cool,” he remarked, adding, “We’ve done a lot of work to ensure the car can park in socially acceptable spots.”
Passengers will be able to hail and unlock the vehicles through the Uber app. The human driver will introduce themselves with a pre-scripted message, informing riders that they will not engage in conversation during the trip but can take over driving upon request.
While these will be the first self-driving taxis available for hire in London, fully autonomous services are already in operation in various cities globally, particularly in the United States, China, and the United Arab Emirates.
Earlier this summer, Uber launched Europe’s inaugural commercial robotaxi service in Zagreb, Croatia, with a human driver present, similar to the arrangement in London.
Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s head of autonomous mobility, highlighted that the London launch represents a significant step towards scaling safe and accessible autonomous vehicle technology in a city known for its complex roadways. He stated, “The benefit for consumers should be, over time, that it’s both safer and cheaper. Right now, no one can operate AVs at a lower cost than traditional human-driven rides, so proving that will take time.”
Maredia acknowledged concerns from drivers but expressed confidence that they would not be displaced: “Many drivers tell us, ‘I drive in this city, and it’s very complex; I don’t believe this product will compete with me anytime soon.’” He reiterated that Uber aims to be a platform accommodating both human drivers and autonomous vehicles, believing that this will continue to be viable for the foreseeable future.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander remarked, “This is a major milestone for the future of transport in London, as British innovation brings this technology onto our roads and offers passengers more options.”
She further noted that Thursday’s announcement reinforces Wayve’s position as a leader in technology development within the UK and showcases how British innovation is fostering growth and investment in transportation.
David McMullen, a senior organizer with the GMB union, cautioned, “With hundreds of thousands of individuals employed as drivers, we must approach the rollout of driverless cars carefully to avoid unprecedented social and economic disruption.”
