Latest news with #Wayve
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
'Uber is bringing driverless taxis to London but one UK city need them more'
With one of the world's most efficient network systems, why on earth has Uber chosen London to trial its driverless robotaxis? There's a much more obvious choice - argues Liam Gilliver In what feels like a new episode of Black Mirror, driverless taxis could soon be whizzing around the perpetually congested streets of London. Fully autonomous robotaxis - which carry passengers without a human driver - are set to be deployed across the Big Smoke as early as spring 2026, as taxi firm Uber deepens its partnership with UK artificial intelligence (AI) firm, Wayve. Similar trials have already taken place across the pond, in cities such as Austin, Texas, offering passengers a chance to ride in a robotaxi at no extra cost. There are, of course, multiple concerns with the announcement. While the Department for Transport says the industry could create a whopping 38,000 jobs and generate £42 billion for the UK economy by 2035 - it poses a huge job threat for the 100,000-something drivers who work for the company in the UK (many of which had little choice but to abandon their traditional taxi job to join the popular competitor). Naturally, mistrust around these futuristic cars also remains rife - and Brits aren't afraid to voice their dislike towards the concept. "Not only would I not get in one, I wouldn't want to drive on the same road as one," one person fumed on X (formerly Twitter). Another agreed, scathing: "I wouldn't trust them but also wouldn't use them because it's taking people's jobs away!" while a third added: "It's hard enough to trust an ordinary taxi." According to the BBC, numerous studies based on US data have suggested these driverless vehicles are 'less accident-prone' than human drivers. Of course, there have still been a number of incidents, including road accidents and passengers being locked in. On the flip side, many social media users have pointed out that they would feel 'safer' being driven by, well, nobody, as opposed to being in close proximity to an effective stranger. I don't have a particularly strong opinion on the driverless taxis itself, but I do think Uber is missing a trick when it comes to where it's trying to pilot such a huge scheme. Does London desperately need more transport options? If people refuse to show demand for the invention, the trials won't lift off the ground - and Uber drivers will keep their jobs. However, it feels similar to the pseudo-outrage that came after supermarkets started opening up self-checkouts, which are now used by the majority. If you use them, you are part of the problem. But Uber's futuristic foray highlights a much deeper issue, one that has seen the north-south divide grow stronger over years of austerity: London will always come first. Yes, the Big Smoke has the highest population density compared to any other UK city, and yes - this explicitly means a higher demand. However, with one of the world's most efficient transport networks (which can accommodate up to five million passenger journeys a day) - trialling robotaxis here feels a tad disappointing. It's only a trial - one where presumably a small fleet will be deployed - so there's no reason it has to take place in London. Why Leeds will benefit more than London Leeds is the largest city in West Europe that doesn't have a mass transit system. Its train station is chaos at the best of times, with delays and cancellations blaring out of the tannoy every five seconds, and most of the suburbs are cut off from any decent public transport links. Earlier this month, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the allocation of £2.1 billion of local transport funding to West Yorkshire which will enable the Combined Authority to get spades in the ground on West Yorkshire's tram project by 2028. While this promises to bolster connectivity to the city - it's certainly no quick fix. In a Reddit thread posted four years ago, Leeds locals were already complaining about the lack of taxis and long wait times. One user said getting home from work had become increasingly hard, even at off-peak times. "Over the past six months the volume of Uber drivers in my area has declined massively and at times I haven't been able to book a trip at all," they wrote. "When checking the 'around you' screen there's honestly not a single car in my entire postcode or the surrounding region - it's a shame that both my local Taxi firm and now Uber are running with such lower driver numbers (due to many known issues)." Another agreed, commenting: "I've had a lot of problems. When I'm making a longer trip (e.g. £15-20) it's been ok, but when it's a shorter £5-7 trip I've had multiple cars just decline it. Took five minutes to get one from the station home last night, and I had about 10 different drivers decline before one accepted," while a third added: "So far I've been ok getting to/from north Leeds to city centre but is definitely harder than it was. Coupled with crap buses getting around Leeds is not easy sometimes." So, Uber. Why London? Why not Leeds? Or Sheffield, or Manchester, or Newcastle or Belfast? Come Guinea Pig test in the north, if you're brave enough.
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Insider
I took a chaotic, surreal robotaxi ride through central London. It left me impressed, but with one big question.
Self-driving taxis are now a common sight on the streets of San Francisco and Shanghai — but in London, the city's famous black cabs still rule the roost. That may not be the case for much longer. Earlier in June, Uber announced it would begin trialling driverless taxis in the UK's capital, in partnership with Microsoft and Nvidia-backed self-driving startup Wayve. As the two companies prepare to launch their robotaxi service, I took a test drive through the busy streets of central London in one of the self-driving Ford Mach-Es Wayve has been testing in the city. The robotaxi dealt with everything London's chaotic driving environment could throw at it, with Wayve CEO Alex Kendall, who joined for the ride, saying it was one of the more eventful trips he'd taken. Robot, take the wheel After a quick look around Wayve's Kings Cross base, we hopped in a Ford Mach-E equipped with the company's "AI driver" self-driving system. Wayve's upcoming robotaxi service with Uber will be fully driverless, but for now, the company is testing with safety drivers who take over if the robotaxi runs into problems. I sat in the front seat, alongside a big red button that disengages the self-driving system (the safety driver on my ride said he'd never had to use it). The driver drove us out of the gates of Wayve's HQ and then, with a sharp buzzing noise, he removed his hands from the wheel, and the robotaxi took over. London's streets are famously complex, so much so that taxi drivers are required to learn thousands of them off by heart in a 150-year-old exam known as "The Knowledge." The city's hodgepodge of Roman and Victorian roads are a mess of cycle lanes and pedestrian crossings, with complex road layouts that often serve more as a rough guide than a rulebook for the millions of drivers passing through the city each day. For Wayve, that complexity is the point. The company says its AI driver — which runs on an end-to-end AI model, an approach also adopted by Tesla — is capable of generalizing and reacting to the physical world in the same way a human would, unlike rivals like Waymo, which rely on high-definition maps and sensors. Kendall said that this allows Wayve's software to drive anywhere, even places it hasn't seen before, and deal with the kind of unexpected encounters that are an everyday occurrence on the streets of a major city like London. "I can't wait to see another autonomy company come into London because I think it's extremely challenging," said Kendall. "The advantage of starting in London is that we've been forced to develop a system that can operate on complex roads and deal with all of these unexpected scenarios," he added. On the road In the first few minutes of our drive, we encountered multiple jaywalkers, including several who darted out across the street without warning in front of the robotaxi. We also had to inch through narrow gaps between rows of parked cars. Perhaps understandably, Wayve's robotaxi was more cautious than your average Uber driver. On one occasion, the robotaxi came to a jerky stop at an amber light when it may have had enough time to go through. Sometimes, that caution was too much for London's impatient commuters. One maneuver that saw the car slowly navigate a tight gap between a set of roadworks and a row of traffic drew an irate honk from the car behind, which was clearly keen for us to hurry up. Wayve has been testing its autonomous vehicles on the streets of London for years, but they still run into the odd surprise. Around halfway into our drive, we came across a roadblock as a team of workers trimmed an overhanging tree. In the seat behind me, Kendall broke off from answering my question and leaned forward to see how the car would deal with the falling branches and the worker directing traffic — but the robotaxi barely paused, successfully reading hand signals to stop and proceed and accelerating past the quizzical stares of the maintenance crew. "I've never seen that before," said Kendall as the robotaxi exited the roadblock, also dodging a tractor reversing along the road. Our route skirted the edge of Soho, London's central nightlife district, and went past the entrance to the British Museum, a narrow street packed with tourists, taxi drivers, and roadworks. Perhaps the most impressive moment of the drive came on this road, one of London's busiest. The robotaxi came to a stop at a crosswalk in near constant use as a huge crowd of pedestrians streamed toward the Museum. Working out the safe moment to move forward would be daunting even for a human driver, but the car spotted an opening and moved through the zebra crossing quickly, avoiding traffic building up behind us. "Lots of autonomy systems, I think, would be stuck here for hours," said Kendall, explaining that moments like this required the robotaxi's AI software to track and predict the activity of dozens of pedestrians. A glimpse into the future? As the drive went on, the activity around us occasionally passed into the bizarre. While coming to a stop at a red light, we narrowly avoided being hit by a small piece of metal that fell off the truck in front as it accelerated away. A pedestrian crossing at the red light kindly picked up the debris and moved it to the side of the road, but it's hard to imagine anyone thinking to simulate a situation so surreal. For Kendall, incidents like this are proof that robotaxis need to get on as many roads as possible. After opening offices in Canada, the US, and Japan over the last year, Wayve has now tested its vehicles in 90 cities in the past 90 days, from alpine roads in Switzerland and dirt tracks in rural Italy to bustling cities like Tokyo and Vancouver. Kendall said for some of those places, Wayve had little to no training data, demonstrating the ability of its software to apply what it has learnt to completely new cities and driving environments. "If robotaxis are just going to be in affluent areas like the Bay Area, then we've failed as an industry. We've got to make sure this technology is rolled out globally," Kendall said. The launch of a driverless ride-hailing service with Uber in London, which will be the first time Wayve has taken the safety driver out of its vehicles, is a big step toward that vision. Both companies declined to say when the driverless pilots would begin or which automaker would supply the vehicles for the robotaxi fleet, but Kendall described it as a huge moment for the young British startup and the broader industry. "It's exciting, it's my life's work. Over 99% of road accidents are due to human error, and this technology can eliminate those," he said. A long road ahead My ride in Wayve's robotaxi ended with the car smoothly negotiating a double roundabout. The safety driver took back control to pull into the company's headquarters, the first time he'd touched the wheel since we'd left an hour ago. After 60 minutes of driving around the centre of one of the world's biggest and most chaotic cities without a hitch, I was impressed, if not completely sold. While self-driving cars are now a reality, the history of the industry is littered with broken promises, high-profile failures, and impressive tech demos that have failed to pan out. Saber Fallah, professor of safe AI and autonomy at the University of Surrey, told BI that while Wayve's AI-focused approach to self-driving was "bold and innovative," he was skeptical about how soon the company would be able to build a robotaxi network in a city as complex as London. "Unlike cities like Phoenix, where many Level 4 trials have taken place, London presents an extremely dynamic and unpredictable environment," said Fallah, adding that the vehicles would need to understand informal social cues and context between drivers and reason about their intent. Fallah said that one issue with Wayve's approach is that the "black box" nature of end-to-end AI systems might make it difficult to understand why robotaxis based on this tech make decisions, potentially undermining public trust. Despite calling the planned robotaxi pilot an "exciting step" for self-driving cars in the UK, Fallah warned that Uber and Wayve would have to navigate challenging liability and regulatory issues while building public confidence in the frontier technology. "Achieving consistent, safe operation without fallback drivers in central London will be an enormous hurdle," he added. Whether Uber and Wayve can run rides like the one I experienced in London a hundred times a day, in rain, sun, fog, and hail, will be the ultimate test. Until then, Londoners will have to stick to the city's black cabs and iconic red buses to get around.
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Uber's UK driverless taxi trial has Brits all saying the same thing
Futuristic robotaxis could soon be driving on UK roads, as Uber confirms its latest trial. However, the news has sparked debate online - with many brits sharing the same concern Uber has revealed futuristic plans to bring driverless taxis to the UK, but Brits have pointed out one big problem. Fully autonomous robotaxis — self-driving cars with no human safety net — could be deployed on London 's roads in the spring of 2026, the taxi firm has announced. The ambitious project is being conducted in partnership with Wayve, a UK-based artificial intelligence company that has been developing and testing driverless vehicle technology on the capital's streets under human supervision — as current regulations require. CEO and co-founder of Wayve, Alex Kendall, said: "The UK has been Wayve's home since 2017 — building this technology here has been an incredible journey, from testing our first prototype in Cambridge to deploying the world 's first end-to-end AI driver on public roads, starting in London and expanding nationwide. "Accelerating commercial self-driving pilots to 2026 positions the UK as a leading destination for the deployment of L4 self-driving technology. These early pilots will help build public trust and unlock new jobs, services, and markets. For Wayve, this means we can prioritise the UK for early deployment and help deliver safer, cleaner mobility to the UK. We're excited to bring the benefits of L4 autonomous mobility to cities around the UK." Changes in policy regarding driverless vehicles were revealed in the build-up to Uber's announcement — the government initially aimed to introduce autonomous cars onto British roads by 2026. However, this timeline was later pushed back to the latter half of 2027. Despite this, the government put forward an accelerated regulatory framework to allow smaller-scale autonomous commercial services, such as buses and taxis, to operate sooner, with the aim of fostering innovation and positioning Britain as a global leader in autonomous transport technology. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander emphasised the significance of this development, stating: "The future of transport is arriving. "Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world leaders in new technology. With road safety at the heart of our pilots and legislation, we continue to take bold steps to create jobs, back British industry, and drive innovation to deliver our Plan for Change." While Uber is yet to confirm whether the robotaxis in the London trial will be available for public use, the company has stated it intends to integrate these vehicles into its UK app as a regular option as soon as legislation permits. The details of the trial, including the number of vehicles and operational specifics, are still being finalised. Uber and Wayve are working closely with regulators to ensure the vehicles meet safety and operational standards before they hit the streets without a human driver. Uber's London trial follows similar initiatives worldwide — Uber launched a robotaxi service in Austin, Texas in March 2025, and claiming its driverless vehicles there could work 20 hours a day, seven days a week — customers have the choice between a regular taxi or robotaxi, if there's one available, with no difference in fare. According to the Department for Transport, the industry could create approximately 38,000 jobs and contribute £42 billion to the UK economy by 2035. However, the introduction of driverless taxis raises social concerns, particularly regarding employment. GMB national secretary Andy Prendergast, emphasised the need to consider the 'significant social implications' of autonomous vehicles, including potential job losses for professional drivers. While members of the Great British public all seem to be saying the same thing about robotaxis on social media. One person wrote: "Not only would I not get in one, I wouldn't want to drive on the same road as one." A second posted: "No. No bloody way. For starters. How will they avoid the potholes? I'm sure London must have some even if it far less than the rest of us." Another agreed: "I wouldn't trust them but also wouldn't use them because it's taking people's jobs away!" While a fourth chimed in: "It's hard enough to trust an ordinary taxi." Although clearly in the minority, at least online, not everyone is so lacking in trust. One commenter said: "Yes, I can't wait to get a driverless car when you don't need a driving licence." While someone else added: "Arrogant human drivers are the biggest danger." Uber's upcoming robotaxi trial in London represents a major step toward integrating autonomous vehicles into everyday urban transport, with the potential to reshape the future of mobility in the UK and beyond — but it remains to see whether Brits will trust the tech enough to use it.
Time Out
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time Out
Uber is launching driverless cars in London next year
Guys, it's happening. Driverless cars are about to become an actual real-life thing in the UK. Uber has announced that it has joined forces with AI firm Wayve to bring self-drive taxis (aka 'robotaxis') to London's roads next year. The big reveal has come after the UK government said that trials of fully driverless vehicles would be brought forward to spring 2026. Hang on, though – haven't trials been going on in the UK for years? Well, yes, for more than a decade actually. But those tests have all involved having a human safety driver on board, ready to take over the controls if necessary. Under the new government legislation, these new vehicles will be the first in Europe to operate without human backup. For now, the vehicles are just part of a trial and it's not clear whether they'll be available for customers to use – the company says that it's still ironing out the details. A larger rollout is expected in late 2027. The department for transport reckons that the vehicles will help reduce deaths and injuries on British roads, as they have faster reaction times than humans and have been trained on a large number of driving scenarios. It also says that they could create 38,000 jobs and add £42bn to the UK economy by 2035. Transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: 'The future of transport is arriving. Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world leaders in new technology.' The government's Automated Vehicles Act will require self-driving cars to be approved after tests to demonstrate 'a level of safety at least as high as competent and careful human drivers'. Robotaxis are already up and running in cities across the US, China, UAE and Singapore, and studies are still looking into whether they really are more or less safe than human-driven cars. Some people are more sus of the whole thing. Steve McNamara, the general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association, told the Guardian: 'They are living in fantasy land. We're probably going to have flying taxis before we have autonomous ones in London. 'Most people haven't got a robot hoover or a robot lawnmower even though they are absolutely fantastic. Are people who don't trust a robot to cut their grass or clean their house going to trust one to take their kids to school or drive their elderly mum around?'
Daily Mirror
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Brits believe roads will be fully driverless in 15 years - but want tougher laws
The government has set a timetable for the introduction of self-driving vehicles but research suggests many people are wary People want tough laws to keep driverless cars safe, a poll found. Most think self-driving vehicles will be commonplace within 15 years, and a quarter of young adults expect to buy one in the next three years. But the safety of the rapidly evolving technology is a concern. Nearly four in 10 questioned in research by National Accident Helpline disagreed that the current laws are adequate to address it. This figure rose to more than half among people aged 55 and over. Nearly 60% of the 2,000 respondents agreed that drivers should have a new licence for a self-driving car, while almost eight in 10 think self-driving cars should be required to pass more stringent safety tests than human-driven vehicles. The results come after Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander this week announced that the government will allow self-driving commercial vehicle pilot schemes from spring 2026. Uber, one of the first firms taking advantage of the move, says it will launch a robotaxi service in partnership with UK AI firm Wayve in London as soon as next spring. A wider rollout is expected when the full Automated Vehicles Act becomes law from the second half of 2027, although local authorities' consent will be required. John Kushnick, legal operations director at National Accident Helpline, said: 'What's fascinating is that many people express safety concerns about self-driving cars, yet often overlook how unsafe human drivers actually are. This highlights a clear gap in public understanding – most accidents are caused by human error, not technology. 'Over a third of respondents said they'd trust autopilot on planes more than a self-driving car, but again, that comes down to familiarity and education. Automation is already making travel safer, and public attitudes will likely shift over time, just as they did with autopilot in planes. "Liability, however, remains a key question. With autonomous vehicles, it's likely that manufacturers will bear more responsibility. "The benefit is that these cars will record everything, making it easier to establish fault. However, we'll need to rethink how insurance works when the human is no longer in control – does the policy belong to the person or the machine?" The implementation of the Automated Vehicles Act has been delayed by a year. It became law in May 2024, was initially hailed as a major step forward for the UK's self-driving car ambitions, establishing a legal framework stating that when a vehicle is in self-driving mode, the manufacturer - not the human occupant - is liable for its behaviour, with the intention of paving the way for the introduction of autonomous vehicles as early as 2026. Several factors contributed to the government's decision to push back the approval date, with safety concerns playing a major role.
