Uber has launched autonomous rides in London in partnership with British artificial intelligence company Wayve, marking a major step in the company’s expansion of robotaxi services.
The development comes shortly after Uber ended its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria after more than 12 years in the country.
According to Reuters, London is now the second European city where Uber offers autonomous rides, following the launch of its robotaxi service in Zagreb.
At the initial stage, fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles will be deployed in London.
Passengers requesting UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric rides may be matched with one of the autonomous vehicles at no additional cost.
A licensed operator will initially remain inside each vehicle to monitor the journey, while fully driverless operations are expected in the future, subject to regulatory approval.
Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, said the launch would help build public and government confidence in autonomous driving technology.
“This will build credibility with consumers as well as with the government,” Maredia said.
British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the development as a major milestone for London’s transport system.
“This is a major milestone for the future of transport in London, as British innovation brings this technology onto our roads and gives passengers more choice,” she said.
Wayve’s AI Driver is designed to learn from experience and adapt to different roads, vehicles, weather conditions and cities.
The company’s CEO and co-founder, Alex Kendall, said London was an ideal location for the technology’s first public deployment.
However, fully driverless services cannot begin immediately as regulatory requirements involving Transport for London and other authorities must first be completed.
Uber partnered with Wayve in 2024 and invested in the British technology company as part of plans to deploy Wayve-powered autonomous vehicles across multiple markets.
The London launch highlights Uber’s growing focus on autonomous mobility as the company explores new technologies and markets in the future of transportation.
