‘Leicester Square, please guv’: Self-driving taxis cleared for London streets ‘later this summer’
Uber and autonomous tech firm Wayve have received licenses to test self-driving taxis in London. The vehicles will operate with a human safety driver present as they prepare for a future public launch.
Why it matters
This marks a significant step in the integration of autonomous vehicle technology into major European urban centers.
A Wayve autonomous car on a London street. Photograph: Wayve A Wayve autonomous car on a London street. Photograph: Wayve Self-driving cars ‘Leicester Square, please guv’: Self-driving taxis cleared for London streets ‘later this summer’ Wayve Uber wins first minicab licence for autonomous cabs from TfL but vehicles will have a safety driver (at first)
Prefer the Guardian on Google The taxi app company Uber and the autonomous technology developer Wayve have been granted the first minicab licences in London allowing them to offer self-driving taxi rides to paying customers – but with a human safety driver in place, for now.
The companies said they would start trips in the UK “later this summer” before the full public launch.
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