London robotaxi trial moves closer as TfL licenses autonomous Uber vehicles with safety drivers
Transport for London has granted private hire vehicle licences to a fleet of autonomous cars that will operate on London streets with qualified safety drivers behind the wheel, marking another step towards the introduction of robotaxi services in the capital.
The approval allows Uber to begin using electric Ford Mustang Mach-E SUVs fitted with autonomous driving technology developed by British company Wayve. Although the vehicles are capable of automated driving, every journey carrying passengers must still have a licensed driver in the driver’s seat who remains legally responsible for the vehicle at all times.
TfL’s decision means the operator, driver and vehicle now satisfy London’s private hire licensing requirements, completing the regulatory framework needed for commercial passenger journeys under existing rules. However, fully driverless services would still require separate approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency before they could operate without a human driver.
The specially adapted vehicles are equipped with roof-mounted camera systems, additional sensors and radar units designed to help the artificial intelligence interpret traffic conditions and navigate London’s busy streets.
Uber says passenger journeys are expected to begin later this year, with invitations initially being offered to some of the more than 100,000 people who previously registered their interest in experiencing the technology before a wider public rollout.
TfL said every vehicle licensed to carry passengers must meet its safety standards, adding that reducing deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads remains a central objective as new transport technologies are introduced.
Wayve described the licence as an important milestone for autonomous mobility in the UK, arguing that the technology has the potential to make urban transport safer, quieter and cleaner when introduced responsibly. Uber also hailed the approval as a significant step towards bringing commercially available autonomous rides to London.
The development is unlikely to reassure everyone. Minicab representatives have previously raised concerns that wider adoption of autonomous vehicles could eventually threaten driving jobs, even though trained drivers will remain in control throughout the initial phase of the programme.
Founded in Cambridge in 2017, Wayve has also been working with manufacturers including Nissan and Stellantis to integrate its artificial intelligence into future passenger vehicles. London is expected to become the first city where the company’s autonomous driving technology is used for commercial ride-hailing services.
For more on London’s approach to autonomous transport, read EyeOnLondon’s coverage of why robotaxis must still follow London’s safety rules and the growing interest in Uber’s driverless taxi launch.
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