London’s first self-driving taxis have started carrying passengers. Uber has launched the service with British autonomous vehicle company Wayve.
The initial fleet has 15 vehicles. They are modified Ford Mustang Mach-E electric cars fitted with Wayve’s self-driving technology.
Passengers can be matched with one of the vehicles through the Uber app. They can choose whether to accept the autonomous car when it is offered.
A human safety driver will remain inside every vehicle. The driver can take control or apply the brakes if necessary.
The cars are therefore not fully driverless yet. Approval is still required before vehicles can operate without human supervision.
Transport for London has granted licences for the initial fleet. The service will allow authorities to assess how the technology performs on London’s roads.
Wayve has been testing autonomous vehicles in London since 2018. Its system uses artificial intelligence to interpret road conditions and make driving decisions.
Other companies are also preparing to enter the UK market.
Wayve is already working with Nissan on future autonomous vehicles. The company is aiming to expand beyond the initial 15-car service.
The launch has also raised concerns among taxi and private hire drivers. Unions have warned that wider adoption could affect employment in the sector.
For now, the London service remains limited. The 15 vehicles will operate with human supervision as regulators assess the technology before fully autonomous taxis can be introduced.
