This is a major move for London’s cabs
Cab giant Uber has launched the UK’s first driverless taxis across London today (Thursday, September 3) after partnering with British AI technology firm Wayve. Londoners can now hail robotaxis via Uber.
Each vehicle will still have a human safety driver who can take the wheel if needed. The companies said they are operating a “small fleet” of all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with the Wayve AI driving technology.
Transport for London granted minicab licences for use on the self-driving vehicles last month. The American giant said more than 140,000 Londoners have already opted in to show their preference to use self-driving vehicles through the ride-hailing app.
The futuristic motors will be strategically located at a depot in London in partnership with Otto Car, which will serve as the central hub for autonomous schemes. The spot will support day-to-day fleet operations, including vehicle maintenance, servicing and charging.
The depot will be complemented by a network of centrally located charging pitstops across the operating area to support the fleet at scale and maximise vehicle uptime.
Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility at Uber said: “London is a world-class hub for transportation innovation and this launch is a major milestone in scaling safe, accessible AV technology in a city with some of the world’s most complex roads.”
How to book one?
You can’t just book one in the same way you would an XL, or pet ride. But riders who request an UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Electric could be matched with a Wayve-powered all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicle.
The service comes at no additional cost and Uber said over 140,000 service users have opted in. In short, it’s completely randomised.
When does a person step in?
This is an understandable worry for a lot of Uber users, as the idea of not having a person behind the wheel may make them feel uneasy.
But fear not, as a trained and TfL licensed private hire driver will be ‘on board to oversee the trip and provide support’ or take over driving if needed.
This is part of the phased introduction, before fully driverless rides begin in the future.
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