Uber and Wayve open London interest list for autonomous robotaxi pilot
The phased rollout marks an early test of driverless ridehailing demand in the UK, with riders paying standard rates for the initial fleet of Wayve-equipped vehicles.
Uber has opened an interest list for customers in London who wish to ride in Wayve’s autonomous vehicles, with the service expected to launch in the coming months. The co-branded Uber x Wayve driverless cars will initially operate with safety drivers on board, as current UK regulations require human oversight. Riders will pay standard rates for UberX, Uber Electric, or Uber Comfort services, with no additional cost for the autonomous option. The rollout is described as a phased pilot, with a mid-to-high single-digit fleet size, pending negotiations with local authorities.
Customers can sign up for the interest list via the Uber app settings under the "autonomous vehicles" section of "ride preferences." Being on the interest list increases the chance of being matched with a Wayve vehicle at launch and keeps users updated. Matched riders can opt to switch to a non-autonomous vehicle ride. Wayve’s Victor Charoonsophonsak confirmed the initial fleet will consist of a mid-to-high single-digit number of cars. The vehicles are branded black Ford Mustang Mach-E models equipped with Wayve’s self-driving technology. The in-vehicle experience includes interactive touchscreens supporting 64 languages.
This launch represents an early test of driverless ridehailing appetite outside the US and China, where robotaxis are already operational. The UK currently has no fully driverless vehicles on public roads, though several companies are conducting tests. The UK government has indicated that fully driverless ridehail pilots may begin from spring 2026, with full rollouts expected after late 2027 when the Automated Vehicles Act of 2024 fully takes effect. Uber has also partnered with Chinese company Baidu for robotaxi services. Alphabet-owned Waymo has also announced plans to launch a service in London.
The exact launch date remains unspecified, with only "in the coming months" confirmed by both companies. It is unclear when safety drivers will be removed from the vehicles. The specific geographic areas of London where the vehicles will operate have not been disclosed. The final scope and scale of the rollout are still subject to ongoing negotiations with local authorities.
