Uber and Wayve cleared to launch supervised self-driving taxis in London this summer

Uber and Wayve secured the first minicab licences in London, paving the way for autonomous taxi rides to start later this summer. TfL issued 15 licences for Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles fitted with Wayve’s artificial-intelligence driving software, surround cameras and radar, after confirming they satisfy required safety criteria. For now a TfL-licensed private-hire driver will occupy the seat to take control if necessary, though the software will handle most of the driving.

The companies report a waiting list of more than 100,000 London residents eager for the service. A fully driverless operation will need an automated passenger services permit from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency. TfL said it will continue to monitor the fleet to support its Vision Zero goal of eliminating deaths and serious injuries by 2041.