Uber and Wayve Win London Licences for Self-Driving Taxi Trials
Uber and autonomous-driving developer Wayve have received London licences allowing paid self-driving taxi trips with human safety drivers, with initial journeys planned for later in summer 2026.
In short
- Uber and autonomous-driving developer Wayve have received London licences allowing paid self-driving taxi trips with human safety drivers, with initial journeys planned for later in summer 2026.
Uber and autonomous-driving developer Wayve have received the first London minicab licences allowing them to offer paid rides in self-driving vehicles, according to a report published on August 5, 2026.
The licences from Transport for London permit the companies to begin operating autonomous taxi services while a human safety driver remains in each vehicle. Uber and Wayve said they expect initial trips to start later in summer 2026, ahead of a broader public launch.
The safety-driver requirement means the first phase will remain supervised rather than fully driverless. The rollout represents a significant step in the commercial testing of autonomous passenger transport on London streets, where licensed private-hire services are regulated by Transport for London.
The companies have not yet provided a precise start date for the first paid journeys or a timetable for removing safety drivers.
