Uber and AI-firm Wayve launch London's first robotaxis

Uber and the British AI firm Wayve have launched London's inaugural fleet of robotaxis on Thursday, marking the city as the second European location to offer this technology after Zagreb. Alex Kendall, CEO and co-founder of Wayve, expressed pride in bringing the Wayve AI Driver to London's complex driving environment. For now, a licensed operator will monitor the vehicle, with full driverless operations anticipated in the future.

Riders can request an UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Electric and may be matched with a Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E at no extra charge, with fewer than 20 cars available at launch. Regulatory hurdles, including delays from Transport for London, remain before full driverless services can commence. Uber's Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, emphasized that the launch aims to build trust with consumers and authorities.

British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander hailed it as a significant step forward for London's transport future, highlighting British innovation bringing such technology to the roads and expanding passenger choices. The collaboration began in 2024, encompassing an investment from Uber, with plans to deploy Wayve-powered vehicles across multiple markets.