Uber Launches First Self-Driving Taxi Service in the UK
Londoners can now experience autonomous rides through the Uber app as the company launches the UK's first public self-driving taxi service in partnership with British technology company Wayve.
Uber has launched supervised autonomous taxi rides in London, marking the first time members of the public can access autonomous trips through a ride-hailing platform in the United Kingdom.
The service, launched in partnership with British autonomous driving technology company Wayve, allows eligible Uber customers in London to be matched with an all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E equipped with Wayve’s artificial intelligence driving technology.
However, despite being described as self-driving, the vehicles are not yet operating completely without human supervision. A trained, Transport for London-licensed private-hire driver remains onboard to monitor the journey and take control if necessary.
Londoners requesting an UberX, Uber Electric or Uber Comfort ride may be matched with one of the autonomous vehicles at no additional cost. Passengers will be given the option to accept the Wayve vehicle or switch to a conventional Uber ride before the vehicle arrives.
The service is starting with a small number of vehicles, with reports indicating that around 15 autonomous vehicles have initially been licensed for operation in the capital. The cars can operate across London, although trips to and from airports are currently excluded.
Uber says passengers interested in increasing their chances of being matched with a Wayve vehicle can opt into autonomous vehicle preferences through the Ride Preferences section in the Uber app. The company said more than 140,000 Londoners had already opted in ahead of the launch.
The launch represents a major step in the UK’s development of autonomous transport technology. While fully driverless taxis are already operating commercially in some cities in the United States and China, the UK is taking a more cautious approach, with further regulatory approval required before vehicles can operate without a human safety driver.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the development as a significant moment for the future of transport, as British autonomous driving technology moves from testing towards public passenger services.
