Uber and UK startup Wayve launched London's first robotaxi service on September 3, 2026. Fifteen Ford Mustang Mach-Es are now taking fares through UberX, Comfort, and Electric at no extra charge. Each car still carries a human safety driver.
Cameras vs. maps
Wayve's system uses cameras and radar instead of lidar or high-definition maps like Waymo. The AI is designed to generalize to new streets without pre-mapping every route. During a BBC test ride, the safety driver intervened when a van's doors appeared to open unexpectedly. Wayve says its system would have handled it.
When the human leaves
Under UK rules, robotaxi operators still need approval to run without a safety driver. Sarfaz Maredia, Uber's head of autonomous mobility, says that process is still playing out. The Department for Transport is working toward a framework for self-driving cars on roads in 2027 — no firm date given. Earlier this year, government and industry suggested fully driverless cars for hire could reach London by end of 2026. That now looks unlikely.
Who's racing whom
Waymo is testing in London ahead of its own commercial launch. Lyft and Baidu are preparing rival services. Uber is positioning itself as the distribution layer for multiple autonomous-vehicle operators rather than building the driving tech itself. London is now a test bed for two approaches: Waymo's sensor-heavy, tightly mapped system and Wayve's more general-purpose AI.