Uber has launched robotaxis in London, marking the first time such services are available in the UK. The service is provided through a partnership with the British company Wayve, using Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with Wayve's autopilot technology.
Customers ordering UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Electric in London can be assigned a robotaxi. Passengers are notified of the assignment and have the option to decline the service and request a traditional vehicle instead.
Due to current regulatory hurdles, a safety driver must remain in the vehicle. Wayve obtained its operating license for autopilot cars in August. The company has been training its robotaxis on London's streets since 2018, and the current fleet consists of only a few vehicles.
The cost of a robotaxi trip is the same as a traditional ride. However, the Uber app will not offer the option to leave a tip for these trips, despite the presence of the safety driver. Uber already operates autonomous fleets in Dallas, Las Vegas, Atlanta, and Austin, with plans to expand to Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Uber and Wayve are planning to further expand their partnership. The companies intend to launch autonomous Nissan vehicles in Tokyo soon.