Photo: Wayve
For the first time, an autonomous EV might show up if you order an Uber in London.
Uber and UK autonomous-driving startup Wayve have launched what they say is Britain’s first autonomous ride-hailing service. As of yesterday, riders who request an UberX, Uber Electric, or Uber Comfort may be matched with a Mustang Mach-E fitted with the Wayve AI Driver.
The autonomous ride doesn’t cost extra, and passengers can accept it or switch to a regular Uber before the car arrives. The service covers trips across London, excluding airports.
But this isn’t a fully driverless robotaxi service yet. There is still a trained, Transport for London-licensed driver behind the wheel, ready to take over if needed.
More than 140,000 Londoners have already opted in through the Trip Preferences section of the Uber app, according to the companies. Riders use the app to unlock the Mach-E and start their trip, while screens inside show the car’s planned route and support 64 languages.
This is the first time members of the public can ride in a car using the Wayve AI Driver. The London-based company has been training its technology on the capital’s roads since 2018.
Wayve says its AI learns from driving data and is designed to adapt to different cities, vehicles, and sensor setups. The Mustang Mach-Es are fitted with surround sensors and Wayve’s software. Uber and Wayve haven’t said exactly how many cars are in the initial fleet, describing it only as a “small number.”
The London launch is part of Uber’s investment in Wayve and a deal to put Wayve-powered vehicles on the Uber network in 12 global markets. Nissan Leafs running Wayve’s AI on NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion hardware are also due to join Uber, starting in Tokyo later this year.
The launch comes as Britain prepares to allow commercial autonomous passenger services without safety drivers. The government opened applications for its pilot program in May, but operators have to clear safety, cybersecurity, and local approval requirements first.
Uber and Wayve’s London service falls into a different category because it has a driver ready to take control. Fully driverless commercial services face a tougher approval process, and Britain’s broader Automated Vehicles Act isn’t expected to be fully implemented until the second half of 2027.
So, for now, Londoners get to watch Wayve’s AI negotiate the capital’s cyclists, pedestrians, roundabouts, and maze of narrow streets, and there’s a licensed human there in case it glitches.
Read more: Surprise! London’s tax on polluting cars made everyone much healthier (updated)
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