Uber Technologies has teamed up with AI specialist Wayve to trial fully autonomous rides across the UK, with no human behind the wheel, beginning in spring 2026.
According to CNBC, this marks Uber’s first foray into “Level 4” autonomy in the region, meaning the cars can operate independently without a safety driver on board.
Initiative to push Uber closer to autonomous travel
In this partnership with Wayve, a London-based startup backed by SoftBank, Uber aims to bring driverless journeys to passengers in London. Wayve’s AI Driver software teaches vehicles to interpret complex urban environments, reacting in real-time to everything from temporary traffic lights to pedestrians and cyclists.
The same breed of self-driving cars already shuttles passengers in San Francisco under Google’s Waymo banner, and global “robotaxi” ventures are vying to match or surpass those early efforts.
According to Uber’s president and COO, Andrew MacDonald, teaming up with Wayve pushes the ride-hailing giant closer to its long-held goal of making autonomous travel both safe and dependable.
Alex Kendall, Wayve’s CEO and co-founder, echoed that sentiment; he called the initiative “a defining moment for UK autonomy.”
“With Uber and a global OEM partner, we’re preparing to put our AI Driver technology into real service on the streets of London.”
– Kendall.
Kendall added that alongside Uber and a major vehicle manufacturer partner, Wayve is ready to unleash its AI Driver on London’s streets.
This is not the first time that the two companies have collaborated. They have partnered previously with Uber participating in a fundraising round for Wayve in August last year, when they planned to bring Wayve’s self-driving technology to Uber’s platform.
Crucial to this pilot is the UK Department for Transport’s new “accelerated framework” for limited commercial autonomous services, drafted last year under the Autonomous Vehicles Act. That legislation passed in 2024 lays the groundwork for self-driving cars to begin operating by 2026.
With this lighter regulatory touch, Uber and Wayve will collaborate closely with Transport for London and other authorities to secure the necessary approvals before allowing rides without a safety driver.
While details are still being finalized, Uber has signaled that the driverless option could seamlessly integrate into its existing UK app, mirroring its approach in Austin, Texas, where robotaxis operate up to 20 hours a day, seven days a week.
And with forecasts from the Department for Transport estimating that autonomous services could generate up to 38,000 jobs and contribute £42 billion to the British economy by 2035, policymakers are keen to balance innovation with social considerations.
For now, eager Londoners can look forward to stepping into a back seat rather than taking the wheel sooner than they might have imagined.
By harnessing cutting-edge AI and leveraging a newly permissive regulatory landscape, Uber and Wayve are poised to redefine urban mobility, turning the long-heralded promise of driverless taxis into a reality on Britain’s capital streets.
For Uber, the initiative comes as the company is also actively championing the crucial role of AI in transportation tech, hoping to leverage the technology for growth.
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