Uber to trial self-driving cars in London
Self-driving Ubers will be tested on public London roads next year
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By Tia Harrison-North
Last updated: 12 June 2025
Uber is prepping to bring self-driving cars to London roads for the first time in spring 2026.
The ride-sharing app has announced a trial of ‘robotaxis’ in partnership with AI start-up Wayve.
These will be bookable in the capital using the Uber app.
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Will self-driving taxis be the norm?
A larger launch of self-driving taxis could potentially follow in late 2027 after the Automated Vehicles Act takes full effect.
The UK government highlights the move as a step forward, making the UK one of the ‘world leaders in new technology’.
It also shares the launch is set to create nearly 40,000 jobs, as well as making the roads safer.
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.
“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.”
What is the Automated Vehicles Act?
The Automated Vehicles Act will be put in place to keep our roads safe among this new tech.
Self-driving cars will need to meet a level of safety that’s at least as high as careful human drivers. Cars will undergo intense testing to uphold this standard.
Self-driving cars will have faster reaction times than humans and are trained for different driving scenarios, so the government is hopeful this will improve road safety.
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