Uber has launched the UK's first driverless taxi service in London, marking a significant step for autonomous vehicles in the country. From today, Uber users in the capital may be matched with a self-driving Ford Mustang Mach-E, operated by British autonomous vehicle developer Wayve's AI Driver technology. The service follows Transport for London's decision last month to grant a private hire licence to Wayve's vehicles.
Wayve has been testing its latest-generation self-driving system on London's streets for about a year. Dubbed 'AV 2.0', the system differs from earlier autonomous vehicles by using AI to make decisions for itself, rather than following pre-programmed instructions. The company says this approach significantly reduces hardware costs compared with the extensive sensor arrays used by rivals such as Google's Waymo, and allows its Mustangs to better handle unexpected situations.
Because Wayve's cars can apply learnings from years of real-world testing to novel scenarios, they are not confined to a small geofenced area. This means they can theoretically operate in unfamiliar cities from the outset, and can carry out Uber duties across London from launch, with the exception of airports. If an Uber user accepts a self-driving car, they can unlock the doors and start the trip through the app, then use a touchscreen to monitor progress.
For the initial launch phase, a TfL-certified taxi driver will be in the front seat to supervise each trip. It has not yet been confirmed when the cars will operate with no human onboard. With only 15 Wayve Mustangs currently running in London, the chances of being allocated one among the capital's 100,000 Ubers are slim, but the company says it will "thoughtfully" expand its fleet in line with its ambition to become a leading provider of autonomous mobility worldwide.
London is the first of 12 global cities in Wayve and Uber's roll-out plan. The two firms will begin offering autonomous ride-hailing in Tokyo later this year using similarly modified Nissan Leafs. Uber itself aims to be "the largest facilitator of AV trips in the world" by 2029 and will offer driverless rides in 15 cities by the end of this year. However, it says its ultimate ambition is to create a "hybrid network" where autonomous vehicles and human drivers work side-by-side, rather than replacing its existing workforce entirely.
The company recently partnered with Rimac's self-driving subsidiary Verne and Chinese robotaxi firm Pony.ai to offer Europe's first autonomous ride-hailing service in Zagreb, Croatia. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander hailed the London launch as "a major milestone for the future of transport in London", adding that the government wants to support new opportunities for investment and skills while recognising the role of those working in the sector today. She said the announcement cements Wayve's status as a technology trailblazer in the UK and highlights how British innovation is driving investment and growth in transport.
Uber and Wayve are first to market with a self-driving cab service, but Google's Waymo is not far behind. Waymo has been testing its autonomous Jaguar I-Paces in London for several months, with a view to launching in September. However, the US firm recently had to reprogramme its routes to avoid certain roads after residents in one East London street complained of being woken at night by a Waymo car repeatedly getting stuck and reversing while emitting a loud warning siren.