Wayve and Uber confirm London autonomous vehicle trials under new UK framework
- Perry Richardson
- 15 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Wayve and Uber have announced plans to begin public road trials of fully autonomous Level 4 vehicles in London. This marks the UK as Uber’s largest declared market for autonomous vehicle testing to date.
The partnership will pair Wayve’s Embodied AI driving platform with Uber’s transport network, targeting wide-scale deployment across Europe. The planned trials follow the UK Government’s confirmation of a new fast-tracked regulatory framework to support commercial self-driving pilots.
Wayve and Uber will now work with the UK Department for Transport and Transport for London to secure all necessary approvals before the trials begin.
London’s varied road network and strict traffic rules present a more complex environment than many US cities where most Level 4 testing has taken place. The companies believe testing in such an urban setting will help speed up the safe development of self-driving systems.
The move is part of the UK’s broader ambition to become a global centre for autonomous vehicle development and deployment.
Alex Kendall, CEO and Co-founder of Wayve, said: “This is a defining moment for UK autonomy. With Uber and a global OEM partner, we’re preparing to put our AI Driver technology into real service on the streets of London, delivering on our AV2.0 vision for scalable autonomy. Our Embodied AI learns to drive anywhere, in any vehicle, and this trial brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond.”
Andrew Macdonald, President and Chief Operating Officer of Uber, said: “We’re excited to take the next step in our journey with Wayve, bringing autonomous mobility to one of the world’s busiest and most complex urban environments. Wayve’s globally scalable AV2.0 approach makes them an ideal partner to bring Uber’s autonomous vision to reality in new cities around the world. Our vision is to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere, and this trial in London brings that future closer to reality.”
Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, said: “Today’s agreement, between two leading names at the forefront of the sector, is a fantastic vote of confidence in this new technology. By fast tracking pilots of self-driving vehicles to spring 2026, we are excited to see safety-first tests that will drive growth, create 38,000 jobs and add £42bn to our economy.”
