Uber said its users could sign up from Monday for a chance to ride in London’s first robotaxis as soon as regulators give the go-ahead, which it expects in the coming months.
The cars will use AI technology from British startup Wayve to drive themselves around the capital’s streets but will initially have trained operators sitting behind the wheel monitoring the system.
Robotaxis already operates in U.S. cities including San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles, and in China. Europe has been slower to roll them out, partly due to local legislation and more complex historical street layouts.
Uber has described their introduction as a strategic priority as it races with rivals to adopt the technology, which promises more efficient journeys and cost savings.
“This is the first time the general public will be able to hail an autonomous vehicle in the UK,” said Wayve VP of commercial and operations Kaity Fischer.
Tested On Busy London Streets
The Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles, branded Uber x Wayve, are equipped with surround cameras and radar that process data within the vehicle.
The technology has been tested on London roads since 2018.
In a test ride taken by a few reporters on Friday, the vehicle coped with heavy London traffic, buses pulling in and out, cyclists swerving through cars and pedestrians stepping onto crossings.
Customers matched with a Wayve autonomous ride can choose to accept or switch to a conventional service, said Annie Duvnjak, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility Operations.
The AV rides will not cost more. Commercial services must be approved by local authorities such as Transport for London before launch.
Transport minister Heidi Alexander said self-driving technology had the potential to transform how people travel, reducing road danger while driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs.
“Wayve is a British success story and this partnership with Uber is a welcome vote of confidence in their technology,” she said.
A Crowded Field
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google-owner Alphabet, is also testing autonomous vehicles on London’s streets and plans to launch commercial services there this year.
Uber and rival Lyft will also test Chinese company Baidu’s Apollo Go self-driving cars in London this year.
Wayve, which partnered with Uber in 2024, said its technology could be adapted to multiple vehicle platforms, enabling rapid scaling.
In February, it raised $1.5 billion, including new investment from Uber, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and Nissan, at a valuation of $8.6 billion.
(with inputs from Reuters)
