British autonomous vehicle startup Wayve and ride-hailing giant Uber plan to launch a fully driverless robotaxi service in London, building on the U.K. government’s newly accelerated timeline for self-driving commercial pilots, the companies said on Tuesday.
The announcement comes as the U.K. moves to advance autonomy trials, with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirming the government will now fast-track deployment of commercial AV pilots to spring 2026, bringing the schedule forward by more than a year to spur private investment.
Details of the upcoming Wayve–Uber collaboration remain sparse, including the fleet size, vehicle manufacturers, and pilot start date. However, Wayve previously said in April that it was integrating its AI software into Nissan vehicles. The companies plan to begin service in central London, with future expansion to Greater London and beyond.
Wayve CEO and co-founder Alex Kendall called the move a milestone for the U.K. AV sector. “With Uber and our global OEM partner, we’re preparing to put our AI Driver technology into real service on the streets of London,” he said. “This trial brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond.”
The launch will require each stakeholder—Wayve, Uber, the OEM partner, and fleet operator—to meet regulatory safety requirements independently. Sarah Gates, Wayve’s director of public policy, said: “Each part of the supply chain would need to prove safety and responsible deployment for what they’re responsible for.” Wayve is tasked with validating its AI driving system, while Uber must ensure operational safety and customer service standards.
Uber invested in Wayve earlier this year as part of a strategy to integrate scalable autonomy into its global ride-hailing platform. Wayve’s AI approach, which does not rely heavily on high-definition maps, aligns with Uber’s goal of deploying autonomous services across diverse geographies.
“This is a defining moment for U.K. autonomy,” said Tilly Pielichaty, a Wayve spokesperson. “We are starting in the U.K., but the ambition is to take it everywhere.”
