Uber Preps London for Robotaxi Launch
▼ Summary
– Uber is opening an interest list in London for riders to be among the first to hail Wayve driverless cars, launching later this year.
– The rollout tests driverless ridehailing appetite outside the US and China, where robotaxis already operate.
– Riders can sign up in the Uber app’s “autonomous vehicles” section to increase their chance of being matched with a Wayve vehicle.
– The launch will be phased with a small fleet (mid-to-high single-digit cars) and initially require safety drivers due to local regulations.
– The UK currently has no fully driverless vehicles on public roads, with full rollouts expected after the Automated Vehicles Act takes effect in late 2027.
Uber is taking a major step toward launching robotaxis in London, inviting residents to join an interest list for the chance to be among the first passengers to ride in a Wayve autonomous vehicle when the service goes live later this year. This expansion marks a significant milestone in one of Uber’s most important markets and serves as an early test of whether driverless ridehailing can gain traction beyond the United States and China, where such services are already operational.
The company is calling on Londoners to express their interest in riding inside its co-branded Uber x Wayve driverless cars. Interested customers can sign up by navigating to the “autonomous vehicles” section under “ride preferences” in the Uber app settings and selecting “join interest list.” Uber says joining the list will “increase their chances of being matched with a Wayve autonomous vehicle at launch” and ensure participants receive updates about the service rollout.
Neither Uber nor Wayve, a British startup headquartered in London, has disclosed an exact launch date. Both companies stated that the service will go live “in the coming months.” Customers matched with a Wayve vehicle will be notified through the Uber app and can choose to switch to a conventional ride if preferred. Uber confirmed that riders requesting UberX, Uber Electric, or Uber Comfort will pay the same fare, with “no additional cost” for choosing the autonomous option.
The launch is being framed as a phased rollout rather than a citywide robotaxi deployment. Negotiations over scope and scale remain ongoing with local authorities. Neither Uber nor Wayve specified which parts of London the vehicles would cover or the fleet size. Wayve’s Victor Charoonsophonsak told The Verge the fleet would start with a mid-to-high single-digit number of cars.
The first rides will not be fully driverless. Current local regulations require a safety driver behind the wheel, ready to take control if necessary. Uber and Wayve declined to say when those drivers would be removed.
Despite these limitations, the interest list adds momentum to efforts to bring robotaxis to London’s roads. The UK currently has no fully driverless vehicles operating on public roads, though several companies are conducting tests. The government has indicated that fully driverless ridehail pilots can begin from spring 2026, with broader rollouts not expected until late 2027, when the Automated Vehicles Act of 2024 fully takes effect.
Uber and Wayve are not alone in targeting London. Uber has also partnered with Chinese giant Baidu, while Alphabet-owned Waymo has announced plans to launch a service in the city.
(Source: The Verge)
