Uber Launches Robotaxi in London After Exiting Nigeria
Uber partnered with Wayve to introduce autonomous robotaxis in London, the second European city for such services after Zagreb.
Uber and British AI firm Wayve unveiled autonomous ride-hailing services in London on Thursday. The launch occurs less than 24 hours after Uber exited Nigeria following over 12 years of operation. This marks the second location in Europe where Uber offers autonomous vehicles, following its initial service start in Zagreb. At this stage, fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles are available for riders requesting UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Electric at no extra cost. A licensed operator remains inside the vehicle to monitor the journey initially. Fully driverless operations depend on future regulatory approval. Uber's Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, stated the initiative aims to build public and government confidence in the technology. British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the event as a major milestone for London's transport system.
