Uber has launched autonomous rides in London in partnership with British artificial intelligence company Wayve, marking a new step in the company’s expansion of robotaxi services.
The development comes after Uber exited Nigeria, where the company had operated its ride-hailing service for over 12 years.
As reported by Reuters on Thursday, London is now the second city in Europe where Uber offers autonomous rides, following the launch of its robotaxi service in Zagreb.
At the initial stage, fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles will be available. Passengers requesting UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric could be matched with one of the autonomous vehicles at no additional cost.
A licensed operator will remain inside the vehicle initially to monitor the journey. Fully driverless operations are expected in the future, subject to regulatory approval.
