Local authorities are being pressed to account in detail for the financial, staffing and enforcement consequences of a proposed overhaul of taxi and private hire vehicle licensing, under a consultation launched by the Department for Transport that could reshape how the sector is regulated in England. The consultation, which opened on 8 January and runs until 1 April 2026, examines whether responsibility for taxi and private hire licensing should be transferred from the curren

A Wolverhampton licensed taxi driver has been fined after a council investigation found he unlawfully refused to carry guide dogs accompanying disabled passengers. Mr Pouya Tajari was found guilty at North Staffordshire Magistrates' Court and ordered to pay a £200 fine, an £80 victim surcharge and £1,000 in prosecution costs. The case followed action taken by City of Wolverhampton Council after complaints were raised by disabled residents. The court heard that in March 2024 M

Waymo has raised $16 billion in a new investment round, valuing the company at $126 billion post money, as it prepares for a significant expansion of its autonomous ride hailing operations in the US and overseas. The funding, announced on 2 February, was led by Dragoneer Investment Group, DST Global and Sequoia Capital, with participation from Andreessen Horowitz, Mubadala Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners, Silver Lake, Tiger Global and T. Rowe Price. Waymo said the round al