Uber and Wayve launch London robotaxi service with safety drivers on board
The service begins with fewer than 20 vehicles and no additional charge for passengers. The launch brings Wayve’s technology onto Uber’s London network, while fully driverless operations remain a subsequent step requiring further approvals.
Uber and British autonomous-driving company Wayve launched supervised passenger rides in London on 3 September, introducing their technology to customers through the ride-hailing platform.
The rollout is limited in scale and retains human supervision. A trained private hire driver licensed by Transport for London (TfL) accompanies each journey, monitors the system and can take control when necessary. The service therefore does not yet offer journeys without a driver on board.
Customers requesting UberX, Uber Electric or Uber Comfort may be offered an electric Ford Mustang Mach-E equipped with Wayve’s driving software. There is no surcharge for accepting the vehicle, and passengers can choose a conventional ride instead.
The operating area covers Greater London, excluding airport trips. Availability depends on a suitable vehicle being nearby, rather than every booking being eligible for an autonomous journey.
According to Reuters, fewer than 20 vehicles are available at launch. London becomes the second European city, after Zagreb, where Uber offers robotaxi rides.
The companies say more than 140,000 London users have enabled their preference for autonomous rides. That figure measures registrations of interest, not completed journeys or regular use of the service.
The launch follows TfL’s decision in August to grant private hire vehicle licences to Wayve’s cars. Those licences completed the requirements for the operator, vehicle and driver to be licensed by the same authority.
Journeys take place under the UK government’s automated vehicle trialling code of practice. The framework requires a safety driver who can resume control, a roadworthy vehicle and appropriate insurance. Passenger services must also comply with the applicable transport licensing rules.
That arrangement is distinct from authorisation to operate without a safety driver. The government’s separate automated passenger services pilot scheme involves safety assessments and consent from local transport authorities. No date for removing the onboard driver was announced with the London launch.
For Wayve, the deployment takes its software from development and testing into a passenger service distributed through an established booking platform. The company has been testing its technology on London roads since 2018.
Its system uses artificial intelligence trained on driving data to interpret its surroundings and determine how the vehicle should move. Wayve says the software does not depend on detailed high-definition maps and is designed to work across different vehicle platforms.
The commercial aim is to reduce the amount of location-specific preparation needed to enter additional markets. Those capabilities are the company’s stated approach, however, rather than evidence that the system can already operate without restrictions in every city.
Uber’s partnership with Wayve dates to 2024 and included a strategic investment. The relationship combines Wayve’s driving technology with Uber’s passenger network and cooperation with vehicle manufacturers.
The companies now envisage deployment in 12 markets, beginning with London. A separate collaboration with Nissan provides for a Tokyo pilot using the Nissan LEAF in late 2026, subject to regulatory coordination and initially with a safety operator.
The London launch illustrates the staged nature of that expansion: passenger access can begin before fully driverless operations are authorised. Moving beyond the initial fleet will require the partners to demonstrate reliable service, meet regulatory requirements and establish sustained demand beyond early registrations.
