Wayve robotaxis licensed for London Uber rides with safety drivers
Transport for London grants private hire licences to autonomous Ford Mustang Mach-Es, with public trials starting this summer
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Residents in Barnet and across London will be among the first to ride in autonomous taxis this summer, after Transport for London granted private hire licences to a fleet of self-driving Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. The cars, developed by British tech firm Wayve, will operate as robotaxis through Uber, with trials beginning in the coming weeks.
The licences allow Wayve to carry passengers, but only if a qualified driver is present to take control if needed. Transport for London said the vehicles met its safety standards, including modifications such as six cameras, which were assessed by experts and found not to compromise passenger safety.
TfL grants private hire licences to Wayve robotaxis in London
Autonomous Ford Mustang Mach-Es could begin passenger journeys later this year, with a driver still required in the vehicle
Trials begin with 100,000 interested riders
Uber has confirmed that some of the 100,000 people who signed up to its robotaxi interest list will be offered rides later this summer. The company described the licence as a key milestone in bringing autonomous rides to London. Wayve’s vice president for global affairs and assurance, Sarah Gates, said the deployment would contribute to safer, cleaner and quieter streets.
This licence is an important step towards giving Londoners the chance to experience autonomous driving technology.
Sarah Gates, Wayve vice president for global affairs and assurance
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The trials will take place under the supervision of a safety driver, who remains legally responsible for the vehicle. Transport for London emphasised that its top priority is safety, and that all licensed vehicles must align with its Vision Zero target to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads by 2041.
Next steps for driverless operation
If Wayve and Uber want to remove the safety driver, they will need separate approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. No timeline has been given for this process. Wayve was founded in 2017 by two University of Cambridge PhD students and has since partnered with car manufacturers including Nissan and Stellantis.
London is the first city in the world to use Wayve’s technology for commercial journeys. The company has not disclosed which areas of the capital will be served first, or whether Barnet residents will be among the early users. Uber has not yet published a schedule for the trial rides.
Questions this report answers
+Will the robotaxis operate without a driver?
No. A qualified safety driver must be present in the vehicle at all times under the terms of the private hire licence. Removing the driver would require separate approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which has not yet been sought.
+When will the robotaxis start carrying passengers?
Uber will offer trial rides to some of the 100,000 people on its interest list later this summer. A full public launch has not been confirmed, and no specific start date has been announced for Barnet or other areas.
+How were the vehicles approved for London?
Transport for London assessed Wayve’s modifications to the Ford Mustang Mach-E, including six cameras, and concluded they did not compromise passenger safety. The vehicles were granted private hire licences, allowing them to carry passengers with a safety driver present.
+Who is behind the robotaxi technology?
Wayve, a British tech firm founded in 2017 by two University of Cambridge PhD students. The company uses artificial intelligence trained on video and driving data to enable autonomous driving. London is the first city to use its technology for commercial journeys.
WE FILE
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The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
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