Uber, Wayve working to set schedule for London robotaxi tests; UK to allow commercial robotaxi tests beginning in spring 2026

Uber, Wayve working to set schedule for London robotaxi tests; UK to allow commercial robotaxi tests beginning in spring 2026

Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER) and Wayve have announced a partnership to launch public-road trials of Level 4 (L4) fully autonomous vehicles in London, marking a significant step forward in autonomous driving technology. The collaboration will leverage Wayve's Embodied AI platform and Uber's global mobility network, aiming to bring autonomous vehicles to the streets of Europe at scale [1].

The UK Secretary of State for Transport has announced an accelerated framework for self-driving commercial pilots, facilitating the trials. This framework is expected to enable the launch of these trials in spring 2026, with the UK government and Transport for London collaborating on permitting and regulatory approval processes [1].

Alex Kendall, CEO and Co-founder of Wayve, commented, "This is a defining moment for UK autonomy. With Uber and a global OEM partner, we’re preparing to put our AI Driver technology into real service on the streets of London, delivering on our AV2.0 vision for scalable autonomy. Our Embodied AI learns to drive anywhere, in any vehicle, and this trial brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond" [1].

Andrew Macdonald, President and Chief Operating Officer of Uber, added, "We’re excited to take the next step in our journey with Wayve, bringing autonomous mobility to one of the world’s busiest and most complex urban environments. Wayve’s globally scalable AV2.0 approach makes them an ideal partner to bring Uber’s autonomous vision to reality in new cities around the world" [1].

Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, stated, "Today’s agreement, between two leading names at the forefront of the sector, is a fantastic vote of confidence in this new technology. By fast tracking pilots of self-driving vehicles to spring 2026, we are excited to see safety-first tests that will drive growth, create 38,000 jobs and add £42b to our economy" [1].

The partnership between Wayve and Uber is part of a broader strategy to integrate Wayve's Embodied AI into vehicles operating on the Uber platform. The next phase of this collaboration includes live operational trials on UK roads, building towards scaled deployment in key European markets [1].

References:
[1] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/UBER/wayve-and-uber-partner-to-launch-l4-autonomy-trials-in-the-iqc0bon8qz8g.html