Autonomous vehicle threat to 120,000 London private hire drivers raised as Mayor warns change ‘could be automated’
- Perry Richardson
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
London’s Mayor has acknowledged the potentially significant impact autonomous passenger vehicles could have on the capital’s 120,000 private hire drivers, warning that the industry cannot ignore technological changes already taking place on city streets.
Speaking during a London Assembly Mayor’s Question Time session, Sir Sadiq Khan said autonomous vehicle technology represented both a major opportunity and challenge for London, with two companies already testing self-driving vehicles in the capital with safety drivers on board.
The comments came in response to Labour Assembly Member Elly Baker, who asked for an update on work being undertaken by the Mayor’s AI and Jobs Taskforce to assess and mitigate the potential impact of autonomous vehicles on private hire drivers.
Khan confirmed that the issue is being considered by the independent taskforce, chaired by Martha Lane-Fox, and stressed that discussions around artificial intelligence and automation must include the future of transport employment.
“The question the Member has raised is such a huge question in terms of this industry and our city generally,” Khan said. He added: “There are two companies who are, with a driver, testing these in London. There is an Automated Vehicles Act that has gone through Parliament. At the moment, we have no regulatory powers over these automated vehicles.”
The Mayor highlighted concerns about the scale of potential disruption facing the private hire sector. “We have 120,000 PHV drivers in London. We have a situation where they could be automated. We cannot pretend it is not happening,” he said.
The remarks reflect growing industry concerns as autonomous vehicle technology advances globally. While commercial robotaxi services remain limited in the UK, the passage of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024 has established the legislative framework for future deployment of self-driving vehicles on British roads.
Khan said the challenge extends beyond just employment impacts and includes wider questions around accessibility, congestion management and environmental outcomes. He questioned how autonomous vehicles would support disabled passengers requiring assistance, asking: “How do you make a reasonable adjustment with no human being there?”
The Mayor also raised concerns around fleet growth and urban traffic management, suggesting policymakers will need to consider whether limits should exist on the number of autonomous vehicles operating in the capital and what effect they may have on air quality and congestion levels.
Despite the concerns, Khan stopped short of taking either an alarmist or overly optimistic position. “I am not an alarmist, nor am I an evangelical. I am quite realistic about the opportunities and the challenges,” he said.
He argued that adaptation to AI technologies would be critical across industries, adding: “Generally speaking, this is one exception, but people will not necessarily be replaced by AI. People will be replaced by those who use AI and those who do not.”
The Mayor also pointed to London’s broader AI strategy, describing the city as one of seven globally examining AI adoption at scale. He noted that London’s AI and Jobs Taskforce is unique among major cities and highlighted a recently announced £12 million package aimed at providing free AI training for small businesses.
For London’s private hire industry, however, the debate remains focused on how quickly autonomous technology develops and whether future regulation can balance innovation with the livelihoods of tens of thousands of drivers whose jobs could eventually face direct competition from automated services.
