Uber beat out Waymo in launching a commercial robotaxi service in London, the city’s first. The vehicles use autonomous driving tech developed by Wayve , a UK-based startup, and will initially feature safety drivers behind the wheel.
What happened
Uber beat out Waymo in launching a commercial robotaxi service in London, the city’s first. The vehicles use autonomous driving tech developed by Wayve , a UK-based startup, and will initially feature safety drivers behind the wheel.
Where the sources line up
The launch is a milestone for Uber, which has been plotting a UK launch with Wayve for several years . In beating Waymo to the punch, it allows Uber to set the standard for the robotaxi experience for thousands of Londoners. It’s also an early test of whether there’s appetite for driverless ridehailing beyond the US and China, where most of the world’s robotaxis are currently clustered. (There’s a smattering in the Middle East, too.
Practical impact for readers
London-based Uber customers who want to try out these new robot-controlled cars can indicate their preference in the app’s settings. When booking a ride through UberX, Uber Comfort, or Uber Electric, riders may be paired with a Wayve-developed autonomous vehicle, but it’s not a guarantee. Wayve is using Ford Mustang Mach-Es for its fleet, followed by the Nissan Leaf in the future.
Who should pay attention now
Safety drivers will monitor the driving from the front seat, though Uber says they won’t control the driving and will gradually be phased out in favor of fully driverless vehicles. Safety drivers are licensed by Transport for London, the city’s transit authority.
What is still unclear
Uber says there will be no geofence — the virtual boundary within which robotaxis are programed to operate — because Wayve’s AV2. 0 system is designed to move “beyond the constraints of traditional AV systems. ” Wayve describes AV2. 0 thusly:.
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