London’s first self-driving taxis for hire hit the streets

Londoners can now hire self-driving taxis for the first time through the Uber app, with Wayve's autonomous vehicles added on Thursday. Initially, only 15 licensed robotaxis are available, each with a human safety driver ready to take control. Transport for London licensed these modified Ford Mustangs as private hire vehicles, requiring a supervisor. This launch marks a significant step for Uber and Wayve in the race to introduce driverless taxis in London, a key market for wider European rollout. Wayve's AI Driver technology is being publicly tested, with plans for fully driverless services in the future once regulatory approval and scalable manufacturing are achieved.

Uber and British tech company Wayve have launched London's first self-driving taxi service, initially with a small fleet of electric Ford Mustang Mach-Es. Unlike fully autonomous services in the U.S. and China, these London robotaxis will have a human safety driver present to intervene if necessary. This cautious approach reflects Europe's broader stance on self-driving vehicles, with the U.K. government still working through pilot frameworks for driverless operation. While other companies like Waymo and Baidu are also testing in London, the city's complex roads and pedestrian traffic present unique challenges. Uber customers may be matched with these autonomous vehicles when hailing a ride, with pricing remaining the same as a standard Uber trip.