Uber and AI company Wayve have launched autonomous rides in London, the companies announced on Thursday (3 September).
Robotaxi services will initially be “supervised”, with a TfL-licensed private hire driver onboard. From Thursday, users will be able to travel anywhere within London in an autonomous vehicle, except on trips from London’s airports.
AV rides are offered at no extra cost and users can choose to accept or switch to a non-AV ride before the car arrives, according to Uber.
The launch follows the companies receiving permits last month from London’s transport authority to bring autonomous rides to the UK capital. Initially, 15 of Wayve’s autonomous Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles have been granted licences. The fleet is expected to “grow thoughtfully over time” in line with rider demand and regulation, the companies said in a statement.
London is the second European city in which Uber has introduced robotaxis, following its launch in the Croatian capital Zagreb earlier this year.
Sarfraz Maredia, global head of autonomous mobility and delivery at Uber, said: "London is a world-class hub for transportation innovation and this launch is a major milestone in scaling safe, accessible AV technology in a city with some of the world’s most complex roads."
UK transport secretary Heidi Alexander said the government will “support new opportunities for investment and skills” as AV technology develops, while recognising “the important role that those working in the sector today will continue to play”.
Uber staff layoffs
The London launch comes a day after reports that Uber plans to lay off about 3,300 employees – equivalent to 10 per cent of its workforce – as it weighs the potential impact of robotaxis on its ride-hailing business amid competition from Waymo and Lyft.
The cuts are reportedly intended to reduce bureaucracy and reporting layers, while concentrating staff at the company’s key hubs. Uber also plans to limit fully remote roles to about 1 per cent of staff while maintaining its three-day office policy, according to Reuters.