After exiting Nigeria, Uber unveils robotaxi in London

Uber has introduced autonomous rides in London, partnering with British AI firm Wayve, as the company expands its robotaxi services. This follows Uber's exit from Nigeria after serving the market for over a decade. London marks the second European city with Uber's autonomous rides, after Zagreb. Initially, fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles will be available for UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Electric customers at no extra charge.

A licensed operator will initially remain in the vehicle to monitor the ride, with fully driverless operations expected in the future, pending regulatory approval. Uber's Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, stated that the launch aims to build public and government confidence in the technology. British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called it a significant development for London's transport system.

Wayve's AI Driver learns from experience to adapt to various road, weather, and city conditions. However, fully driverless services remain on hold due to regulatory hurdles that must be cleared by Transport for London and other authorities. Uber and Wayve partnered in 2024, with Wayve receiving an investment from Uber, as part of their plans to deploy autonomous vehicles globally.