Uber launches autonomous robotaxi trial on Manchester streets
Uber has started testing driver-assisted autonomous vehicles in Manchester, using partner technologies from Pony and Verne, with a safety driver on board and no passengers.
Uber began a robotaxi pilot in Manchester, deploying autonomous cars built with technology from its partners Pony and Verne. A safety driver remains in the front seat and the cars carry no passengers while the city streets are being mapped. This follows a similar limited service in London, where vehicles supplied by Wayve operate under Transport for London rules.
Driver unions such as GMB and ADCU warn that widespread robotaxis could threaten thousands of jobs, and a London Assembly transport committee report called for clearer government oversight. The trial runs under licences issued by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and the Department for Transport, but no formal request to run passenger services in Manchester has been submitted. Transport for Greater Manchester said any future deployment must prioritize safety and resident impact, while Uber aims to run robotaxi trips in up to 15 cities worldwide by the end of 2026.
