Uber launched autonomous taxi rides in London on Thursday, using artificial intelligence technology developed by British self-driving startup Wayve, making London the second European city after Zagreb where Uber is offering robotaxi rides.

The initial rollout will include fewer than 20 vehicles, with a licensed operator remaining inside each vehicle to supervise the ride. Fully driverless operations are expected at a later stage once the necessary regulatory approvals are secured.

Passengers requesting UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric rides could be matched with a Ford Mustang Mach-E equipped with Wayve’s autonomous driving technology at no additional cost.

Wayve’s system uses artificial intelligence designed to learn from experience in a manner similar to a human driver. The companies say the technology can adapt to different roads, vehicles, weather conditions and cities.

Regulatory hurdles remain before completely driverless taxis can operate commercially across London, with delays reportedly affecting the approval process at Transport for London.

British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander called the launch a “significant milestone” for the future of transportation in London, saying British-developed technology is now reaching the capital’s streets and giving passengers another transportation option.

Uber and Wayve began working together in 2024, when Uber also invested in the British company as part of plans to eventually deploy vehicles using Wayve technology in additional markets.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)