Transport for London has granted 15 private hire vehicle licenses to Uber and Wayve for self-driving taxi operations using Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with Wayve’s artificial intelligence software. The vehicles are outfitted with surround cameras and radar technology that has met required safety standards according to the licensing authority.
The initial phase of operations will require a licensed private hire driver to remain in the driver’s seat during trips, with the ability to intervene if necessary, though the autonomous software is expected to control the vehicle during normal operation. The companies indicated that more than 100,000 Londoners have registered on waiting lists for access to the service. Operations are set to commence later this summer, with the companies competing against Google-owned Waymo and Baidu’s Apollo Go to establish their presence in the London market.
The next stage of development would involve operating the vehicles without a human driver present, which would require approval through a new government process called an automated passenger services permit, administered by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. Transport for London stated it would actively monitor vehicle usage and remain prepared to intervene if passenger safety concerns arise. The authority emphasized that all licensed vehicles must align with its Vision Zero initiative, which targets the elimination of all deaths and serious injuries from collisions by 2041.
Wayve, co-founded by Alex Kendall, has been conducting testing in London since 2018 with safety drivers present. The company characterized the license approval as a significant step toward introducing autonomous driving experiences to Londoners. However, the development has generated concern among minicab drivers and their representatives, who have raised questions about potential job losses and liability issues associated with the technology’s deployment.
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