Uber eyes London ‘robo-ridehail’ launch as Government opens milestone door to operators offering self-driving passenger services
- Perry Richardson
- 56 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Uber has set itself at the centre of the UK’s latest push towards autonomous transport after the Government confirmed passengers could begin booking self-driving taxi and bus-style services later this year under a new pilot scheme across Great Britain.
The Department for Transport opened applications today for operators wanting to run automated passenger services on public roads, with ministers presenting the move as a major step towards commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles in the UK.
The pilot programme will allow companies including Uber and Wayve to test services carrying passengers in real-world operating conditions before wider regulation is introduced.
Uber responded quickly to the announcement, signalling its intention to move ahead with autonomous ride services in the capital. Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber, said: “This is an exciting and important step toward launching autonomous vehicles in the UK.”
Uber says capital could see autonomous rides this year as government begins accepting applications for pilot scheme
He added: “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.”
The comments place London firmly in Uber’s plans for early autonomous deployment outside the United States, where robotaxi operations have already expanded rapidly in selected cities. The company has increasingly focused on partnerships with autonomous vehicle developers as part of its long-term transport strategy.
The UK pilot scheme is expected to focus heavily on safety oversight and operational performance. The Government said services would be subject to “rigorous approval checks”, including assessments covering cyber resilience and wider security protections.
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said the technology represented “a transformative opportunity for Britain”.
“Self-driving vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for Britain, opening up independent travel for disabled people and older adults, whilst driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs across the UK,” Lightwood said.
“This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self-driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first.”
The Department for Transport said human error currently contributes to 88% of road collisions, with ministers arguing that autonomous systems could improve long-term road safety outcomes if deployed successfully.
Any operator wanting to launch services will still require consent from local transport authorities, including Transport for London, potentially giving city regulators significant influence over how and where services are introduced.
The announcement also drew support from autonomous technology firms preparing for UK operations. Waymo, which already provides more than 500,000 paid autonomous rides each week across 11 metropolitan areas in the United States, said it hoped to become part of London’s transport network.
Wayve, which has spent nearly a decade developing autonomous technology in Britain, also confirmed plans to introduce a supervised passenger service during the pilot phase.
Sarah Gates, VP of Global Affairs and Assurance at Wayve, described the launch of the Automated Passenger Services scheme as “an important milestone” for the sector. She said self-driving vehicles could help make transport “safer, more accessible and more convenient for millions of people” while also supporting economic growth and high-skilled employment.
The pilots will help shape the final regulatory framework for autonomous passenger transport in Britain following a government Call for Evidence that closed earlier this year. Industry participants are expected to closely monitor how regulators balance innovation, passenger safety, insurance liability and operational accountability as services begin carrying members of the public.
