Uber Unveils Self-Driving Taxis in London Through Wayve Partnership
Uber has launched its first self-driving taxi service in London through a partnership with UK-based artificial intelligence firm Wayve. The initial deployment consists of under 20 Ford Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles, which are equipped with Wayve's autonomous driving platform.
The program allows customers to request an UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Electric ride and may receive one of the self-driving vehicles without additional fees. However, a certified safety operator remains in the driver's seat throughout this early deployment phase, maintaining the ability to assume manual control or engage the braking system when necessary.
According to Sarfraz Maredia, Uber's head of autonomous mobility, the company is navigating regulatory approval processes for fully autonomous operations under the UK government's experimental framework. No specific timeframe has been established for removing safety drivers.