London is getting ready for a major transport upgrade. Uber and British tech company Wayve have received approval to operate robotaxis in the city.
A qualified human driver must remain behind the wheel
However, there is one important condition. A qualified human driver must remain behind the wheel during every trip.
Transport for London (TfL) granted the private hire licence after confirming the vehicles met its strict safety standards. As a result, selected passengers could start enjoying the service later this summer.
The robotaxis are electric Ford Mustang Mach-Es fitted with roof cameras, radar sensors, and an AI-powered computer. These smart systems allow the cars to understand the road and react to traffic. Even so, the human driver will stay responsible for every journey.
A separate approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency will still be needed before the cars can operate without a driver. Meanwhile, Uber revealed that more than 100,000 people have already signed up to experience the new technology.
Robotaxi sounds interesting but what will it mean for jobs?
For many people, riding in a robotaxi sounds exciting. Others, however, are worried about what it means for jobs. Minicab unions fear this could be the beginning of fewer driving opportunities in the future. TfL insists that safety remains its biggest priority.
The transport authority also says every licensed vehicle must support its goal of ending all deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads by 2041. Wayve’s Vice President for Global Affairs and Assurance, Sarah Gates, called the licence “an important step.”
She added,
“The responsible deployment of these vehicles will bring us safer, cleaner and quieter streets, and we’re proud to continue working alongside regulators, communities and the public as we take the next steps towards making autonomous rides a reality in the capital.”
London becomes first city globally to use Wayve for commercial rides
Wayve was founded in 2017 by two University of Cambridge PhD students. London will become the first city in the world to use the company’s technology for commercial passenger rides.
The company is also working with Nissan and Stellantis to bring its AI driving system to private cars. Uber believes this is only the beginning. Global Head of Autonomous Mobility Operations Annie Duvnjak said,
“Our interest list has seen an incredible response from Londoners who are excited to experience Wayve’s British-built autonomous driving technology.”
