Uber is set to begin testing its robotaxis—fully autonomous vehicles with no human safety driver—in London next spring.
The ride-hailing giant is partnering with UK-based artificial intelligence firm Wayve, which has already been trialling self-driving technology on London streets under current regulations with human oversight. Reports Technology News
The announcement follows yet another update from the UK government regarding its timeline for autonomous vehicles. While the original plan targeted a 2026 launch, that was later revised to the second half of 2027. Now, the government says it will fast-track a regulatory framework to allow small-scale autonomous taxi and shuttle services to begin operations sooner than expected.
It remains unclear whether Uber’s London trial will be open to passengers. The company says discussions are ongoing, but it plans to roll out robotaxis as a regular feature in its UK app once the legislation permits.
According to the Department for Transport, the autonomous vehicle sector could generate 38,000 new jobs and contribute £42 billion to the UK economy by 2035.
However, concerns remain. GMB union national secretary Andy Prendergast told the BBC last month that the potential impact of driverless cars on employment and broader society must be thoroughly considered.
Uber has already launched a robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, where the autonomous vehicles operate up to 20 hours a day, seven days a week. There, customers can opt for a robotaxi ride at no extra cost—provided one is available. Tesla is also gearing up to launch a competing service in the same city this June.
Globally, fully autonomous vehicles have clocked millions of miles on public roads in countries such as China, the UAE, and Singapore. While many studies based on US data suggest automated vehicles are less prone to accidents than human drivers, the safety of driverless technology remains under scrutiny.
Incidents involving robotaxis in operational regions have included accidents and cases where passengers were trapped inside the vehicles—highlighting both the potential and the pitfalls of the technology.
