Uber's autonomous vehicles, powered by Wayve's technology, have received licenses to begin operating on London's roads this summer. Transport for London (TfL) has awarded private hire vehicle licenses for these Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles.
However, a significant stipulation accompanies this approval: a qualified human driver must be present and in control of the vehicle at all times during operation. This means the cars will not yet be fully driverless for public use. Londoners interested in experiencing this autonomous driving technology will need to wait until Uber and Wayve demonstrate its safety and obtain separate approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Despite the current requirement for a human driver, Uber has confirmed that some of the approximately 100,000 individuals who have registered their interest will be offered early access rides later this summer. These vehicles may be assigned to customers requesting UberX, Uber Electric, or Uber Comfort services at no additional charge. Passengers will have the option to decline a ride if they prefer a human driver.
Inside the vehicle, passengers will find interactive screens to initiate rides and view the planned route. Support will also be available in 64 languages. Wayve's vice president for global affairs and assurance, Sarah Gates, stated that the license is a crucial step towards allowing Londoners to experience autonomous driving technology, emphasizing the potential for safer, cleaner, and quieter streets.
Uber's global head of autonomous mobility operations, Annie Duvnjak, echoed this sentiment, calling the license a key milestone and noting the strong public interest in Wayve's British-built autonomous driving technology.
TfL has stated that safety remains its paramount concern, and any vehicle licensed for passenger transport must align with its goal of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries on London's roads by 2041. Experts have assessed Wayve's modifications to the Mustang Mach-E, including the addition of six cameras, and found they do not compromise passenger safety.
London is set to be the first city globally to feature Wayve's technology for commercial journeys. Wayve is also collaborating with manufacturers like Nissan and Stellantis to integrate its systems into private vehicles. This development positions Uber in direct competition with Waymo, another company preparing to launch its own robotaxi service in London with fully autonomous Jaguar vehicles, potentially as early as next year.