London robotaxi will be launched by Wayve and Uber after the UK accelerates its deployment of autonomous vehicles

In the upcoming years, Wayve, an autonomous driving firm located in the United Kingdom, wants to partner with Uber to launch a fully driverless robotaxi service in London. This move comes on the heels of the U.K. government’s recent acceleration of its regulatory roadmap for autonomous commercial deployments, now aiming for self-driving pilot launches by spring 2026 instead of the previously targeted late 2027. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasized this shift as a way to boost investment in autonomous mobility within the country.

While the timeline for testing and full service remains vague, neither Wayve nor Uber have disclosed concrete details such as fleet size, start date, or the specific automotive partners involved. But in April, Wayve had already stated that its autonomous technology would be included into Nissan automobiles. Uber made this statement in addition to its strategic investment in Wayve in 2024, which aims to integrate the company’s AI-powered systems into consumer cars that use the Uber platform.

According to Wayve representatives, the rollout will begin in central London, with plans to expand throughout Greater London and other areas. Each entity involved in the service-Wayve, Uber, vehicle manufacturers, and fleet operators-will need to meet regulatory standards for safety before the service can officially begin. Wayve is responsible for proving the safety of its autonomous system within defined operational limits, while Uber must ensure responsible operation of the ride-hailing service, including customer support infrastructure.

Wayve’s co-founder and CEO, Alex Kendall, described the partnership as a milestone in the evolution of autonomous driving in the U.K. He emphasized that Wayve’s Embodied AI technology is capable of adapting to different environments and vehicle platforms, aligning with the company’s AV2.0 vision for scalable, flexible autonomy. The forthcoming London trials represent a step toward bringing safe, intelligent self-driving technology to daily transport across the country and potentially beyond.

In parallel, Wayve is currently executing its “AI-500 Roadshow,” a global demonstration designed to prove the adaptability of its autonomous driving model across diverse geographies. So far, the campaign has reached 90 cities across Asia, Europe, and North America in as many days. The initiative underscores the system’s capability to function without the need for region-specific mapping, a feature that appeals to Uber’s globally distributed mobility network. Wayve sees this as an essential step toward enabling its AI to eventually serve ride-hailing services around the world, beginning with London as the launch point.