Uber Launches Robotaxi Service in London After Exiting Nigeria

Uber has launched an autonomous ride-hailing service in London in partnership with British artificial intelligence company Wayve, marking a major step in the company’s expansion into self-driving transportation.

The launch comes shortly after Uber ended its operations in Nigeria following more than 12 years of providing ride-hailing services in the country.

According to Reuters, London is the second European city where Uber has introduced autonomous rides, following its robotaxi launch in Zagreb.

Initially, fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles will operate in London. Passengers using UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric may be matched with one of the autonomous vehicles at no extra cost.

A licensed safety operator will remain inside each vehicle to monitor the journey during the initial phase. Fully driverless operations are expected later, subject to regulatory approval.

Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, said the service would help increase public and government confidence in autonomous vehicle technology.

“This will build credibility with consumers as well as with the government,” Maredia said.

British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the launch as an important development for London’s transport system, saying British innovation was bringing the technology to the city’s roads and giving passengers more choices.

Wayve’s AI Driver is designed to learn from driving experience and adapt to different roads, vehicles, weather conditions and cities.

Wayve CEO and co-founder Alex Kendall said London was an ideal location for the company’s first public deployment because of the city’s complex driving environment.

However, fully driverless services cannot begin immediately. Uber and Wayve must still meet regulatory requirements, including approvals involving Transport for London.

Uber partnered with Wayve in 2024 and invested in the British technology company as part of plans to deploy Wayve-powered autonomous vehicles in several markets.

The London launch underscores Uber’s growing focus on autonomous mobility as the company explores new technologies to shape the future of transportation.

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