Uber and Wayve to begin testing driverless robotaxis in London

Uber and British autonomous-driving startup Wayve are set to begin carrying passengers in driverless robotaxis in London this week, marking the first such passenger service in the British capital.

The initial trial will involve 15 vehicles, which will be made available for booking through the Uber app, The New York Times reports.

For the time being, every robotaxi will have a safety driver on board who can take control of the vehicle if necessary.

When a driverless vehicle is available for a journey, the Uber app will ask customers whether they want to travel in it. Those who decline will instead be assigned a conventional taxi with a driver.

Wayve Chief Executive Alex Kendall declined to provide an estimated timeframe for when UK authorities could approve a broader rollout of the technology on London's roads.

Analysts cited by The New York Times expect wider deployment to come no earlier than 2027, and possibly not until 2028.

By Tamilla Hasanova