Uber is set to roll out a fleet of self-driving cars in London later this month, after technology company Wayve was granted private hire vehicle (PHV) licences by Transport for London (TfL) for its autonomous electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles.
Licences awarded for robotaxis
Wayve said TfL has awarded PHV licences to a number of its self-driving vehicles, which will be used by Uber to transport passengers around the capital. The move has been described as "a key milestone" in bringing autonomous driving technology to Britain's streets.
Uber said some of the 100,000 people who signed up to express their interest in experiencing 'robotaxis' will be offered rides in the vehicles "later this summer", ahead of a full public launch. Passengers opting into the service will be charged the same fare as standard minicabs.
Safety measures and driver presence
A qualified driver will sit behind the wheel ready to take control during journeys. This driver must be present and remain responsible for the car under the terms of the PHV licence. Once they have demonstrated the technology is safe, Uber and Wayve will be required to obtain separate approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) if they want to operate the cars without a driver.
Wayve vice president for global affairs and assurance, Sarah Gates, said: "This licence is an important step towards giving Londoners the chance to experience autonomous driving technology."
"The responsible deployment of these vehicles will bring us safer, cleaner and quieter streets," Ms Gates added. "We’re proud to continue working alongside regulators, communities and the public as we take the next steps towards making autonomous rides a reality in the capital."
Reactions and protests
Uber global head of autonomous mobility operations Annie Duvnjak said: "This licence is a key milestone in bringing autonomous rides to London on Uber."
"Our interest list has seen an incredible response from Londoners who are excited to experience Wayve’s British-built autonomous driving technology." Some Uber drivers have already staged small-scale protests against the introduction of autonomous vehicles.
TfL safety assurances
A TfL spokesperson said safety is its "top priority" and any new vehicle licensed to carry passengers in London must align with its target of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries on the city's roads by 2041. Wayve’s modifications to the Mustang Mach-E – which include the installation of six cameras – were assessed by experts and found "they do not compromise passenger safety", he added.
During a 15-minute demonstration which took place earlier this year from Wayve's north London headquarters, the vehicle successfully navigated hazards - including pedestrians and oncoming traffic - without human intervention, strictly adhering to the city's 20mph speed limit.
Background and expansion
Wayve was founded in 2017 by two University of Cambridge PhD students. While autonomous ride-hailing services are already operational in US cities like Atlanta and Austin, London will be the first global market to deploy Wayve's AI-powered systems. Wayve is also working with car manufacturers such as Nissan and Stellantis to deploy its systems in private vehicles.
