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Uber launches UK robotaxis in London with human safety drivers
The pilot starts with 15 licensed autonomous vehicles, and Uber says robotaxi trips will cost the same as regular UberX, Uber Electric, or Uber Comfort fares shown in the app.
Uber has launched what it calls the UK's first robotaxi service in London, using an initial fleet of 15 autonomous vehicles licensed to operate in the city. Each robotaxi will have a human safety driver inside, ready to take control if something goes wrong.
The service is being rolled out through Uber's app, where robotaxi rides appear only after a trip has been booked and if an autonomous vehicle is available nearby. Uber said it surveyed London-based customers in the app, and more than 100,000 said they would choose a self-driving taxi if one were offered, despite prior malfunctions reported for driverless rides in US cities where Uber already operates.
Uber said it plans to phase the robotaxis in over several years, while maintaining access to human-driver rides. Uber's global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, Sarfraz Maredia, said the company expects human drivers to remain part of Uber London for the long term.
The vehicles are Ford Mustang electric cars equipped with driverless technology from UK firm Wayve, which uses AI and sensor data to determine actions in real time rather than relying on pre-programmed routes. The BBC Business notes Uber's robotaxi rollout also places it in competition with Waymo and Baidu, which are also aiming to launch services in the UK.