Uber has opened an interest list for customers keen to try autonomous minicabs in the capital, as self-driving taxis near a commercial launch in the UK.<\/p>\n
The ride-hailing giant is partnering with British autonomous driving firm Wayve<\/a>, whose technology has been tested on London’s streets since 2018.<\/p>\n Customers can now opt in through the Uber app for a chance to be matched with one of the vehicles when the service launches, which both companies expect to happen in the coming months, subject to regulatory approval.<\/p>\n Initially, the vehicles will operate with a trained safety operator behind the wheel, although the long-term ambition is fully driverless journeys.<\/p>\n Announcing the move at London Tech Week<\/a>, Wayve’s vice president of commercial and operations, Kaity Fischer, described the launch as a “full circle moment” for the company after nearly a decade of testing on some of the world’s most challenging roads.<\/p>\n “We’ve been testing 24\/7, 365 here in London for years,” Fischer said. “Some of the most complex streets imaginable, 2,000-year-old roads, 20 times the amount of construction compared to San Francisco.”<\/p>\n She added that London’s combination of cyclists, pedestrians, roadworks, cobbled streets and unpredictable traffic patterns creates an “incredible proving ground” for autonomous technology.<\/p>\n Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility operations, Annie Duvnjak, added: “For us at Uber, London’s really a pioneer city. We’re just so thrilled to be partnering with an incredible technology company like Wayve to give Londoners access to that in the coming months.”<\/p>\n ‘Magically Boring’<\/p>\n The launch sets up a looming battle between Wayve and Alphabet-owned Waymo<\/a>, which is also testing autonomous vehicles across London ahead of a commercial rollout.<\/p>\n While robotaxis are already operating in cities including San Francisco, Phoenix and parts of China, Europe has lagged behind due to tougher regulation and more complex urban environments.<\/p>\n Unlike some rivals, Wayve’s system does not rely on high-definition maps or geofenced operating zones, allowing vehicles to adapt more easily to new cities and road conditions.<\/p>\n The company says the technology has already been trained extensively on London’s streets and is now “ready to go.”<\/p>\n For passengers, Duvnjak said the novelty quickly wears off: “You know, you’re looking, what’s the wheel doing? Is it seeing that person crossing the road? And then all of a sudden it becomes magically boring. You’re suddenly checking your email again, you’re just going on about your day.”<\/p>\n Uber says autonomous rides will cost the same as conventional journeys and customers will be able to reject a robotaxi if they would prefer a human driver.<\/p>\n The rollout comes as ministers push to accelerate autonomous vehicle trials following the passage of the Autonomous Vehicles Act<\/a>. Transport secretary Heidi Alexander said self-driving technology had the potential to “transform how people travel,” while creating high-skilled jobs across Britain.<\/p>\n By City AM <\/p>\n