What has actually launched?
On 2 September 2026, Uber announced supervised autonomous rides in London with UK technology company Wayve. Some riders requesting eligible Uber services can be offered a Wayve-equipped electric vehicle. A trained, TfL-licensed private hire driver remains on board to supervise the journey. That is not the same as a fully driverless commercial taxi service.
Read the Uber and Wayve announcement and London Assembly investigation.
Why drivers should pay attention
Autonomous fleets may eventually change the demand for human drivers. The pace, scale and employment effects are not yet established. Driver livelihoods, accessible transport, insurance, vehicle maintenance, emergency response and public trust deserve proper scrutiny.
What about safety?
Automated systems could reduce some human errors, but new risks include difficult road situations, software faults, cyber security and unclear responsibility after incidents. Trials and deployments operate under different regulatory requirements. The Department for Transport pilot guidance explains the distinction between supervised trials and vehicles operating without a safety driver.
What we will be tracking
- Approvals for fully driverless passenger services.
- Independent safety evidence and incident reporting.
- Impacts on licensed private hire drivers and local employment.
- Accessibility, congestion and consumer choice.
- Who is legally responsible when automated systems fail.
Our position: New technology deserves scrutiny, not panic. We will report both possible benefits and credible risks.