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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Technology

After exiting Nigeria, Uber unveils robotaxi service in London

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Uber has begun offering autonomous rides in London through a partnership with British AI company Wayve, making London its second European robotaxi city after Zagreb.
  • Fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles will initially serve selected Uber customers at no extra cost, with licensed operators monitoring each journey.
  • Fully driverless operations require approval from Transport for London and other regulators.

Uber has brought its robotaxi experiment to London, even as the company has just left Nigeria after more than 12 years of ride-hailing operations there. The launch places autonomous vehicles on the roads of Uber’s home market in Europe and marks the company’s second robotaxi city on the continent, after Zagreb.

The initial fleet will include fewer than 20 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles powered by Wayve’s artificial intelligence system. Passengers who request UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric may be matched with one of the autonomous cars without paying an additional fee. For now, however, the vehicles will not be truly driverless. A licensed operator will sit inside each car and monitor the journey.

This will build credibility with consumers as well as with the government.

· Sarfraz MarediaUber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility explained the purpose of the London launch.

Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, said the London service would help win public and official acceptance for the technology. “This will build credibility with consumers as well as with the government,” Maredia said.

This is a major milestone for the future of transport in London, as British innovation brings this technology onto our roads and gives passengers more choice.

· Heidi AlexanderThe British transport secretary welcomed the autonomous ride service.

The launch also gives Wayve its first public deployment of its AI Driver. The system is designed to learn from experience and adapt to different roads, vehicles, weather conditions and cities. Wayve CEO and co-founder Alex Kendall called London a natural testing ground. “We’re proud to introduce the Wayve AI Driver to the public for the first time right here in London, our home city and one of the most complex driving environments in the world,” he said.

British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the service as “a major milestone for the future of transport in London, as British innovation brings this technology onto our roads and gives passengers more choice.” Full driverless operations will have to wait until regulatory processes involving Transport for London and other requirements are completed. Uber and Wayve began working together in 2024, including an investment by Uber in the British company, as part of plans to deploy autonomous vehicles in several markets.

We’re proud to introduce the Wayve AI Driver to the public for the first time right here in London, our home city and one of the most complex driving environments in the world.

· Alex KendallWayve’s CEO and co-founder described London as the ideal location for the company’s first public deployment.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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