UBER TO LAUNCH SELF-DRIVING TAXIS IN LONDON NEXT YEAR

• READ MORE: Flying taxis will take to British skies in just THREE YEARS

They sound like vehicles from the latest science fiction blockbuster. 

But robotaxis are officially coming to London in a matter of months.  

Uber has announced it will launch self-driving taxis in the UK capital from spring 2026.

The ride-hailing app company will operate the robotaxi service in partnership with AI start-up Wayve.

Uber's services will initially have a human in the driver's seat who can take over control of the vehicle in an emergency. 

However, the trials will eventually transition to being fully driverless.

The company's existing trials of self-driving taxis are generally in US locations which have much simpler road layouts than London.

Uber chief operating officer Andrew Macdonald described the English capital's roads as 'one of the world's busiest and most complex urban environments'.

He added: 'Our vision is to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere, and this trial in London brings that future closer to reality.' 

The service has been enabled by the Government's decision to bring forward trials of self-driving commercial taxis and 'bus-like services' in England to next spring.

They were previously expected to begin when the Automated Vehicles Act becomes law from the second half of 2027.

Wayve co-founder Alex Kendall said the trial is 'a defining moment for UK autonomy'. 

He added it 'brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond'.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'The future of transport is arriving.

'Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world-leaders in new technology.

'With road safety at the heart of our pilots and legislation, we continue to take bold steps to create jobs, back British industry and drive innovation.'

The sale and use of self-driving private cars will only be permitted when the Automated Vehicles Act becomes law.

This legislation will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as 'competent and careful human drivers', the DfT said.

It is hoped the vehicles will reduce road deaths and injuries as their systems will be designed to have faster reaction times than humans, and will not become distracted or tired.

The development of automated vehicle technology could create 38,000 jobs in the UK and add £42 billion to the economy by 2035, according to the DfT.

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2025-06-10T11:40:53Z