Driverless taxis have begun operating in London as part of a trial that introduces autonomous vehicles carrying paying passengers in the UK for the first time. Uber has partnered with British technology firm Wayve to launch the service, initially deploying a limited number of modified Ford Mach-E vehicles across the capital. While the cars are capable of navigating without human input, a safety driver remains behind the wheel during this phase as the technology continues to undergo regulatory review.

Wendy Lee, Uber’s head of autonomous mobility and delivery, described this launch as a preliminary step toward fully driverless taxis. If Transport for London (TfL) grants approval, the company plans to introduce Nissan Leaf vehicles operating entirely without a human driver. Despite these ambitions, Lee emphasized that there is no immediate rush to remove drivers from the cabs.

The rollout has generated significant concern among trade unions representing taxi drivers. David McMullen, Senior Organiser at the GMB union, warned that with hundreds of thousands of people employed as drivers, the transition to autonomous vehicles risks considerable job losses. He called on TfL and government officials to devise comprehensive plans to protect drivers and hold operators accountable before expanding driverless services. “It is premature to move to ‘driverless’ services without a plan to manage this transition and support drivers,” McMullen said.

Public reaction to the new technology remains divided. According to a YouGov survey conducted in July, 42% of London residents oppose the introduction of autonomous cabs, while 29% expressed support. Despite this, Uber reported that over 140,000 customers have already registered interest in booking a ride in a self-driving taxi via its app.

Wayve’s Kaity Fischer highlighted potential employment opportunities arising from the expansion of driverless vehicles. She suggested that jobs could be created not only in supplying and maintaining the new fleet but also in roles providing passenger assistance and vehicle care. Fischer acknowledged the concerns but noted that human drivers would continue to be needed for certain situations involving assistance, comfort, or personal preference.

The current phase of the trial represents a cautious approach to integrating autonomous taxis into London’s transport landscape, balancing technological innovation with regulatory scrutiny and workforce considerations.