Birmingham, 11 June 2025 — In a landmark move for the UK’s transportation sector, autonomous vehicle technology firm Wayve and global mobility leader Uber (NYSE: UBER) have announced plans to launch Level 4 (L4) fully autonomous vehicle trials on public roads in London. This partnership marks a historic milestone for the UK as it becomes the largest market to host Uber’s autonomous vehicle pilots to date.
The trials, scheduled to begin on London’s complex roadways, will blend Wayve’s cutting-edge Embodied AI platform with Uber’s expansive global ride-hailing network. This collaboration aims to accelerate the deployment of safe and intelligent autonomous driving services, offering new mobility opportunities while reinforcing the UK’s position as a global leader in next-generation transport.
“This is a transformative moment for the UK’s transport industry,” said a Wayve spokesperson. “Our partnership with Uber brings autonomous driving technology to the heart of the world’s most dynamic cities, building a safer and more convenient future for millions of passengers.”
This announcement comes on the heels of a major policy shift from Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, who confirmed yesterday that the UK government will fast-track self-driving commercial pilots to start in spring 2026. Under the new framework, companies can test ‘taxi- and bus-like’ autonomous services without safety drivers for the first time, with members of the public able to book rides via apps. This policy, underpinned by the new Automated Vehicles Act set for the second half of 2027, is expected to create nearly 40,000 jobs and drive £42 billion in economic growth by 2035.
“By bringing forward these pilots, we’re not just shaping the future of transport — we’re creating a thriving new industry,” said Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander. “Self-driving vehicles have the potential to make our roads safer, reduce human error — which contributes to 88% of collisions — and put money back in the pockets of hardworking people across the country.”
Wayve and Uber’s collaboration will work closely with the UK Government and Transport for London to secure regulatory approval before trials commence. The lessons learned from these pilots in London’s uniquely challenging road network — vastly different from the predominantly US-based L4 tests — will help refine the technology for deployment in cities worldwide.
Uber and Wayve’s multi-year partnership, initially announced in 2024, has already laid the groundwork for integrating Wayve’s Embodied AI into Uber’s platform. This next phase, with live operational trials, represents a crucial step toward the widespread rollout of autonomous ride-hailing services across the UK and Europe.
If the London trials of Uber’s autonomous robotaxis prove successful, the technology giant could soon expand
its driverless services to other major UK cities, including Birmingham, Bradford, Leeds, and Manchester.
This expansion promises not only safer roads—addressing the human error that contributes to 88% of traffic collisions—but also thousands of new jobs and a significant economic boost, positioning the UK as a leader in next-generation transport innovation.