en.Wedoany.com Reported - UK-based Wayve, in partnership with Uber, is expected to launch a commercial autonomous taxi service in London as early as this summer. Uber has opened an "interest list" for registration within its app, and registered users may become the first passengers to experience London's first Wayve robotaxis. Initial trips will include a safety driver, pending regulatory approval. Kaity Fischer, Wayve's Vice President of Commercial and Operations, told AFP: "We hope to launch in the coming months. We are ready, just awaiting the final approvals." She added: "This is the first time the British public will be able to hail an autonomous vehicle via their phone. We can't wait for the public to ride in our vehicles and experience Wayve technology firsthand." According to Wayve, Uber users who hail its robotaxis will pay the same price as for a traditional ride.

Founded in 2017, Wayve is a UK-based AI startup focused on reimagining mobility through embodied intelligence. The company has secured multiple funding rounds, including a $1.05 billion round in 2024 and a $1.2 billion round earlier this year. Its embodied AI system, named AV2.0, enables vehicles to learn while driving, understand their surroundings, anticipate next moves, and respond to changes in real time. It has been tested in London since 2018. Rather than building its own fleet, Wayve partners with automakers to integrate its "AI Driver" system into their vehicles. In 2024, Wayve established a partnership with Uber to support the multi-year deployment of robotaxis powered by Wayve technology on the Uber network. Under the agreement, Wayve will deploy its AI Driver in Level 4 vehicles (capable of fully autonomous operation in specific environments) from participating automakers including Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Stellantis, while Uber will own and operate the fleet.

Rollout will depend on regulatory approval. Earlier this year, the UK government stated its intention to update regulations under the Automated Vehicles Act in the second half of 2026, at which point driverless services could legally operate on public roads, provided strict safety standards are met. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander recently stated at London Tech Week that the technology has the potential to transform how people travel—reducing road hazards while driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs across the UK. "Wayve is a British success story, and its partnership with Uber is a vote of confidence in its technology," she said. Robotaxis are already operating in the US and China, and a launch in London would be a first for Europe. However, Uber is not the only competitor: Google-owned Waymo plans to operate driverless services in London by September, and ride-hailing company Lyft has also stated it will deploy Baidu Apollo Go vehicles within the year. Despite government support, the launch faces opposition. The UK's GMB Union has declared that over 300,000 jobs are threatened by autonomous taxis and has called on the government to legislate to protect drivers. Ali Haydor, a private hire driver and union member, noted: "Gig economy companies portray robotaxis as progress—they tell us the technology will improve efficiency, reduce costs, and benefit society, but progress for whom? Technology will continue to evolve, but workers should not be expected to bear all the risks while companies reap all the rewards."

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