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Wayve robotaxis go live in London via Uber app with human backup
Only 15 licensed vehicles are available at launch, while fully driverless approval still requires a separate UK government process expected to be unlikely this year.
Wayve’s self-driving taxis have begun operating in London for hire through the Uber app, marking the city’s first availability of robotaxi services with a human driver positioned to take over if needed, according to the Guardian Business.
Transport for London licensed Uber and Wayve’s modified Ford Mustang vehicles as private hire cars, but the conditions still require a safety driver supervising. Regulatory approval for fully autonomous operations without a safety driver must be granted under a separate process involving the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which is now seen as unlikely this year.
At launch, just 15 cars are licensed and available for riders, despite London having more than 100,000 private hire vehicles, and Uber saying roughly the same number of customers have registered for autonomous rides.
Wayve said its AI driver technology uses an AI learning model rather than mapping, and plans to move to scalable manufacturer-produced vehicles, including new Nissan Leaf robotaxis. The company is also still seeking regulatory approval and working to validate safety metrics before launching fully driverless services, as it competes with other robotaxi testing in London, including Waymo and Baidu.