Uber opened an interest list for London customers to ride in self-driving vehicles powered by British AI startup Wayve. Public trials will begin in the coming months. A human safety operator will remain in the vehicle during the initial phase. Rides will cost the same as standard Uber services. This launch marks the first time paying passengers will use autonomous vehicles on UK roads.
The partnership creates direct competition with Alphabet’s Waymo, which is currently testing its own autonomous fleet in London. Both companies target a full public launch by 2026. The UK government is accelerating commercial pilots through a new regulatory framework to establish the country as a technology leader.