London has entered a new era of transport as Uber launches the UK's first robotaxi service, allowing passengers to request a self-driving minicab through its app.
The initial fleet is small, with just 15 autonomous vehicles licensed to operate in London. For now, however, the cars are not completely driverless. Every vehicle must have a trained human safety driver in the front seat who can take control if necessary.
Uber says there is strong interest in the technology. The company surveyed customers in London through its app, and more than 100,000 people said they would be willing to use a self-driving taxi if one were available.
That enthusiasm comes despite several incidents involving driverless vehicles malfunctioning in US cities where autonomous taxi services are already operating.
What Does a Robotaxi Ride Feel Like?
I became the first UK journalist to hail one of Uber's self-driving vehicles through the app and experience the service as a passenger.
Overall, the journey was smooth. The vehicle successfully handled London's busy roads, traffic lights and roadworks, although the safety driver did have to intervene once during the trip.
For now, robotaxi journeys will cost the same as comparable UberX, Uber Electric or Uber Comfort trips. Passengers will see the fare in advance through the app.
The self-driving option will only appear after a journey has been booked and when an autonomous vehicle is available nearby.
Uber's global head of autonomous mobility and delivery, Sarfraz Maredia, said the company expects the technology to be introduced gradually over several years.
He stressed that passengers will continue to have the choice between a conventional ride with a human driver and an autonomous vehicle, adding that human drivers are expected to remain an important part of Uber's London operations for many years.
How the Self-Driving Cars Work
Uber's current robotaxi fleet consists of electric Ford Mustang vehicles equipped with autonomous-driving technology developed by UK company Wayve.
The system uses artificial intelligence to process information about the vehicle's surroundings in real time. Sensors mounted on the roof and elsewhere on the car collect information about traffic, pedestrians, cyclists and other objects.
Unlike vehicles that rely entirely on pre-programmed routes and instructions, the Wayve system makes driving decisions based on what it detects around the vehicle at any given moment.
Wayve is not the only company pursuing autonomous taxi services in Britain. Waymo, Google's self-driving vehicle company, and Chinese technology giant Baidu are also looking to establish robotaxi operations in the UK.
The competition is intense, with companies racing to develop technology capable of safely handling complicated urban environments.
Wayve chief executive Alex Kendall described the development of autonomous driving as a defining technological challenge of the current generation. He said the company's approach was designed to allow self-driving technology to operate in complex cities such as London before eventually expanding globally.
‘The Safety Driver Had to Take Control'
My journey began with a brief safety explanation from the driver, lasting around 30 seconds.
We then headed into central London, where the vehicle dealt with busy traffic without any immediate problems.
It passed a large demonstration taking place near Parliament and successfully negotiated traffic lights and roadworks.
At one point, a cyclist stopped at a mini-roundabout and used a hand gesture to signal that the car could move forward. The robotaxi responded appropriately and continued its journey.
However, the trip was not completely hands-off.
While the car was pulling away from a narrow side road, the rear doors of a parked van appeared to begin opening beside us. The robotaxi immediately braked sharply and issued an alert.
The safety driver then took control of the vehicle.
Wayve later said the intervention had been the driver's decision and that the company believed the autonomous system would have been capable of dealing with the situation itself.
The incident lasted only a few seconds, but it highlighted an important point: although technology companies are moving quickly, regulators are taking a much more cautious approach to fully autonomous transport.
Safety and Regulation Remain Major Questions
Earlier in the year, government officials and industry representatives had suggested that completely driverless vehicles could potentially be available for hire in London before the end of 2026.
That timetable now appears increasingly difficult to achieve.
The Department for Transport (DfT) and Transport for London (TfL) are responsible for overseeing the development of autonomous vehicle services. Both organisations have faced criticism from parts of the industry over the pace of regulatory decisions.
The government says it is working towards a framework that could allow self-driving vehicles onto UK roads in 2027.
However, it has stressed that services will only be introduced after extensive safety testing and regulatory approval. Local authorities will also have a say, particularly over the potential effects on roads, employment and local communities.
TfL's director of transport strategy and policy, Christina Calderator, rejected suggestions that the organisation was unnecessarily delaying autonomous vehicles.
Instead, she said authorities were taking the time needed to make sure the technology was safe before allowing it to expand.
There are also concerns from transport workers.
David McMullen, a senior organiser at the GMB trade union, warned that the introduction of driverless vehicles could create significant social and economic disruption.
He called for the government and TfL to establish measures protecting professional drivers before moving towards fully autonomous taxi services.
A New Chapter for London's Transport
Uber's launch represents an important step for autonomous driving in the UK, but the technology is still in its early stages.
The first robotaxi rides suggest that self-driving cars can handle many of London's complicated roads, but the intervention by a human safety driver also demonstrates why regulators remain cautious.
As Uber, Wayve, Waymo and other companies continue competing to develop autonomous transport, the biggest challenge will not simply be making cars drive themselves.
It will be proving that they can do so safely, reliably and consistently in one of the world's busiest and most unpredictable cities.
