OPERATORS NOW SEEKING APPROVAL: Driverless ‘taxi-style’ vehicles move step closer as passengers could book self-driving fares on British roads this year
- Perry Richardson
- 2 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Applications for self-driving passenger services across Great Britain are set to open today, allowing operators to seek approval to run taxi and bus-style automated vehicles on public roads later this year.
The Department for Transport-backed pilot scheme is expected to include firms such as Wayve, Uber and Waymo, with services aimed at testing how autonomous vehicles operate in real-world passenger settings.
Government says the programme could support thousands of jobs and contribute billions of pounds to the economy by 2035, while expanding transport options for older and disabled passengers.
Safety checks will sit at the centre of the scheme. Operators will face government approval processes, including safety assessments and checks on cyber and security resilience, before passenger services are allowed to operate.
Operators can apply from 22 May to run automated passenger services, with local transport authorities retaining consent powers over schemes in their areas.
Local transport authorities, including Transport for London (TfL), will also need to give local consent. That provision is being closely watched by taxi and private hire stakeholders, particularly in areas where autonomous ride-hailing services may compete with existing licensed operators.
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said self-driving vehicles could open up independent travel for disabled people and older adults while creating skilled jobs. He said the pilot would allow passengers to experience the technology while keeping safety as the priority.
The pilots will feed into wider automated vehicle regulations currently being developed by government. A Call for Evidence on the rules closed in March.
Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery, Uber, said: "This is an exciting and important step toward launching autonomous vehicles in the UK.
“London has long been a pioneering city for Uber, where we've launched some of our biggest innovations, and we can't wait to give people in the capital the chance to experience autonomous rides this year."
Ben Loewenstein, Waymo Head of Policy and Government Affairs for the UK and Europe, said: “The UK is leading the way in enabling the safe deployment of pilot autonomous vehicle services. We hope to soon become part of London’s transport network and demonstrate the safety, accessibility, sustainability benefits of battery-electric autonomous vehicles through the government’s pilot scheme. We are working closely with the Department for Transport and Transport for London to ensure our operations align with their goals.
“Waymo is serving riders in eleven major metropolitan areas in the US, providing over 500,000 rides each week. We are excited to bring our world-leading, fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the UK, and help make transport in London safer and more accessible.”
Sarah Gates, VP, Global Affairs and Assurance at Wayve, said: “The UK has all the ingredients to become a global leader in the deployment of self-driving vehicles, and today’s launch of the Automated Passenger Services scheme marks an important milestone. Wayve has been developing its technology in the UK for nearly a decade, and we’re excited to bring our supervised passenger service to market here this year.
“Self-driving vehicles represent a generational opportunity to make road transport safer, more accessible and more convenient for millions of people. Beyond the societal benefits, this sector also has the potential to drive significant economic growth — revitalising the UK’s industrial base, creating high-skilled jobs, and strengthening the country’s position as a world-leading technology ecosystem.”
