A fleet of self-driving vehicles set to operate through Uber in London have been awarded minicab licences.
Technology firm Wayve announced that Transport for London (TfL) has issued private hire vehicle (PHV) licences to several of its autonomous fully electric Ford Mustang Mach-E cars.
Uber revealed that some of the 100,000 people who registered their interest in experiencing robotaxis will be offered trips in the vehicles “later this summer”, ahead of a full public launch.
A human driver will remain seated behind the wheel, ready to intervene and take control during journeys.
Once the technology has been proven to be safe, Uber and Wayve will need to secure separate approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency should they wish to operate the vehicles without a driver present.
Wayve vice president for global affairs and assurance, Sarah Gates, said: “This licence is an important step towards giving Londoners the chance to experience autonomous driving technology.
“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.”
Uber global head of autonomous mobility operations Annie Duvnjak said: “This licence is a key milestone in bringing autonomous rides to London on Uber.
“Our interest list has seen an incredible response from Londoners who are excited to experience Wayve’s British-built autonomous driving technology.”
A TfL spokesperson confirmed that safety remains its “top priority”, stating that any new vehicle licensed to carry passengers in the capital must be in line with its goal of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries on London’s roads by 2041.
Wayve’s alterations to the Mustang Mach-E – including its six cameras – were reviewed by specialists who concluded “they do not compromise passenger safety”, he added.
Under the terms of a PHV licence, a qualified driver must be present and retain full responsibility for the vehicle at all times.
Matthew Wright, regional organiser for the GMB Union, which represents thousands of private hire drivers across London, labelled TfL’s ruling “a worrying development”.
He said: “We can’t go charging ahead with new technologies without considering the implications of autonomous vehicles on all parties.”
Key concerns include how drivers will be “supported to reskill and redeploy if their jobs go”, and how driverless cars “cannot replace the knowledge, experience and human connection that a skilled driver offers”.
He added: “GMB urges TfL to proceed with extreme caution.”
Founded in 2017 by two University of Cambridge PhD students, Wayve is set to make London the first city in the world to utilise its technology for commercial journeys. The firm is also collaborating with major car manufacturers, including Nissan and Stellantis, to roll out its systems in privately owned vehicles.