Uber and Wayve launch London's first public robotaxi service with safety drivers

Uber and Wayve launched London’s first public robotaxi pilot with autonomous Ford Mustang Mach-E rides, with a safety driver on board during the initial phase and plans to expand later as regulations permit. The service is limited to UberX, Uber Comfort, and Uber Electric with fewer than 20 vehicles initially and no airport coverage, while riders can opt in or out of autonomous options in the Uber app. Wayve's AI Driver uses cameras and radar to learn from real-world driving without heavy dependence on HD maps, and is designed to handle London’s complex streets and weather, with riders able to see autonomous status in the app. Regulatory hurdles include Transport for London approvals for fully driverless operation, and the rollout remains cautious, mirroring broader European pilots where human safety drivers are still required. About 140,000 Londoners have registered interest in autonomous rides, and Uber is considering scaling by introducing Nissan Leaf AVs and expanding to markets such as Tokyo. The launch positions London ahead of rivals in Europe as Uber continues its robotaxi push amid regulation and public acceptance.