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Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Wayve, Uber to start Level 4 autonomous vehicle trials in UK in 2026
Wayve and Uber have announced plans to initiate public-road trials of Level 4 autonomous vehicles in London next year, positioning the UK as a significant player in the development of self-driving technology. This collaboration will leverage Wayve's Embodied AI platform and Uber's extensive mobility network, aiming to scale the deployment of autonomous vehicles across Europe. The initiative has been made possible by the UK Secretary of State for Transport which has a framework for self-driving commercial pilots, aimed to establish the UK as a leader in autonomous vehicle technology. Wayve CEO and co-founder Alex Kendall said: 'This is a defining moment for UK autonomy. With Uber and a global OEM partner, we're preparing to put our AI Driver technology into real service on the streets of London, delivering on our AV2.0 vision for scalable autonomy. "Our Embodied AI learns to drive anywhere, in any vehicle, and this trial brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond.' Wayve and Uber will work closely with the UK Government and Transport for London to navigate the permitting and regulatory approval process before the trials commence in spring 2026. Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said: 'Today's agreement, between two leading names at the forefront of the sector, is a fantastic vote of confidence in this new technology. By fast tracking pilots of self-driving vehicles to spring 2026, we are excited to see safety-first tests that will drive growth, create 38,000 jobs and add £42bn to our economy.' In 2024, the partners entered a multi-year collaboration to integrate Wayve's Embodied AI into vehicles operating on the Uber platform. Uber president and chief operating officer Andrew Macdonald added: 'We're excited to take the next step in our journey with Wayve, bringing autonomous mobility to one of the world's busiest and most complex urban environments. "Wayve's globally scalable AV2.0 approach makes them an ideal partner to bring Uber's autonomous vision to reality in new cities around the world. Our vision is to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere, and this trial in London brings that future closer to reality.' Additionally, in March, Wayve expanded its operations by setting up an on-road testing and development hub in Germany. This move is part of the company's strategy to enhance its automated driving technology and prepare for the upcoming trials in London with Uber. "Wayve, Uber to start Level 4 autonomous vehicle trials in UK in 2026" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Uber (UBER) to Test Fully Driverless Rides in the UK With Wayve
Uber (UBER, Financials) is getting ready to take the driver out of the driver's seatliterally. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 6 Warning Sign with UBER. The ride-hailing giant said Tuesday it will launch its first driverless pilot in the UK through a partnership with Wayve, a London-based startup building AI software for self-driving cars. The trials, expected to begin in London, will use Wayve's AI Driver to power cars that operate without human intervention. Uber said the UK's new accelerated framework for self-driving pilots made the move possible. This is a defining moment, said Wayve CEO Alex Kendall. We're putting AI Driver into real service. Uber COO Andrew MacDonald said the pilot pushes the company closer to making autonomy a reliable option for riders everywhere. The companies are coordinating with the UK's Department for Transport and Transport for London to secure the green light. The UK's Autonomous Vehicles Act, passed last year, aims to get self-driving cars on the road by 2026. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Wayve and Uber plan London robotaxi launch after UK speeds up autonomous vehicle rollout
U.K.-based autonomous vehicle technology company Wayve and Uber plan to launch a fully driverless robotaxi service in London in the coming years. The news comes soon after the U.K.'s announcement of an accelerated framework for self-driving commercial pilots. U.K. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander confirmed Tuesday that the U.K. government would fast-track pilots to spring 2026, up from late 2027, to incentivize investment in autonomy in the country. Wayve and Uber did not share many details of their upcoming launch, such as when exactly the companies would begin trials and service, with how many vehicles, or via which vehicle manufacturer partner or partners. Wayve said in April that its tech would be headed to Nissan vehicles. The announcement follows Uber's strategic investment into Wayve in 2024 that promised to see the startup's AI integrated into consumer vehicles that will one day operate on Uber's platform. A Wayve spokesperson told TechCrunch the companies would start in the U.K. capital and scale out to greater London and beyond from there. First, every company involved in launching a robotaxi service would need to prove relevant safety cases to regulators. 'We have a partner ecosystem for bringing a service to market,' Sarah Gates, Wayve's director of public policy, told TechCrunch. 'Wayve provides driving intelligence integrated into a base vehicle provided by a vehicle manufacturer, and then we would have a fleet operator, and Uber would operate the service. So each part of that supply chain would need to prove safety and responsible deployment for what they're responsible for.' In Wayve's case, the company needs to prove the safety of the system and how it drives within its operational design domain. Uber would have separate commitments around operating a passenger service responsibly and having things like customer service in place. 'This is a defining moment for U.K. autonomy,' Alex Kendall, Wayve's CEO and co-founder, said in a statement. 'With Uber and our global OEM partner, we're preparing to put our AI Driver technology into real service on the streets of London, delivering on our AV2.0 vision for scalable autonomy. Our Embodied AI learns to drive anywhere, in any vehicle, and this trial brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond.' Wayve recently published a blog detailing the initial findings from its 'AI-500 Roadshow,' a project to visit 500 cities using a single AI model by the end of 2025. So far, the startup has hit 90 cities in 90 days, spanning Asia, Europe, and North America. The demonstration is designed to prove that Wayve's technology can operate anywhere it's placed, rather than relying first on mapping a region. That's relevant data to a company like Uber, which operates globally and has been doing deals with almost every AV company to scale its autonomous capabilities fast. 'Uber has got one of the largest mobility networks globally, so the fact that our AI can serve as their global network is a big reason why this partnership and this [driverless] trialing is so important,' Tilly Pielichaty, a Wayve spokesperson, told TechCrunch. 'We are starting in the U.K., but the ambition is to take it everywhere.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Uber self-driving robotaxis are coming to UK roads NEXT YEAR
UBER is set to trial driverless robotaxis in London next spring, where passengers could be driven by artificial intelligence (AI) in place of a human. The ride-hailing app has partnered with UK AI firm Wayve, which has been testing autonomous vehicles in the capital with human oversight. Advertisement 4 A driverless car being tested by Uber in Pittsburgh, PA Credit: Alamy 4 Uber has previously said it intends to introduce fleets of driverless cars to its UK app as soon as legislation allows Credit: Getty The pilot will be the first of its kind for the company, Uber said in a statement. It is not yet clear whether the vehicles in Uber's trial will be available for customers to use. The company said it is still working out the details. If all goes well, passengers may soon be able to take Uber rides without a safety driver present. Advertisement Uber has previously said it intends to introduce fleets of driverless cars to its UK app as soon as legislation allows. Such journeys have become commonplace in the US, namely San Francisco, home to Google's driverless taxi firm Andrew MacDonald, president and chief operating officer of Uber, said the partnership with Wayve would help "to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere." "This is a defining moment for UK autonomy," Wayve CEO and co-founder Alex Kendall said in a statement. Advertisement Most read in Tech Live Blog "With Uber and a global OEM partner, we're preparing to put our AI Driver technology into real service on the streets of London." Watch moment passenger left TRAPPED in driverless car 'going round in circles' after robot taxi malfunctions The trial has been made possible following a change in UK regulation that aims to get driverless cars on the road sooner. The UK government was originally aiming for the tech to come to British roads in 2026, then the date was changed to the second half of 2027. However, the government's new stance is that it wants them on the roads sooner, and so it's introducing an accelerated framework for small autonomous "bus and taxi like" commercial services. Advertisement The legislation will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as 'competent and careful human drivers', the Department for Transport (DfT) said. Driverless vehicles are hoped to reduce road deaths and injuries, as their systems will be more fault-proof than humans. The development of automated vehicle technology could create 38,000 jobs in the UK and add £42billion to the economy by 2035, according to the DfT. It's unclear how many customers will opt for a driverless vehicle over a car with a human behind the wheel. Advertisement The experience still appears fairly daunting - even for It comes as Uber plans to take on the skies over Italy's Amalfi Coast. The company has announced that high-flying customers will be able to book helicopters in minutes. Read more on the Irish Sun From 26 July to 23 August, travellers on Italy's Amalfi Coast can reserve a private Uber Copter to ferry them between Sorrento and Capri. Advertisement Using the Uber app, passengers can book helicopter travel for €250 (around £184) per head to beat summer crowds. 4 It comes as Uber plans to take on the skies over Italy's Amalfi Coast Credit: Getty 4 The trial has been made possible following a change in UK regulation that aims to get driverless cars on the road sooner Credit: Getty
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Uber self-driving robotaxis are coming to UK roads NEXT YEAR
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) UBER is set to trial driverless robotaxis in London next spring, where passengers could be driven by artificial intelligence (AI) in place of a human. The ride-hailing app has partnered with UK AI firm Wayve, which has been testing autonomous vehicles in the capital with human oversight. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A driverless car being tested by Uber in Pittsburgh, PA Credit: Alamy 4 Uber has previously said it intends to introduce fleets of driverless cars to its UK app as soon as legislation allows Credit: Getty The pilot will be the first of its kind for the company, Uber said in a statement. It is not yet clear whether the vehicles in Uber's trial will be available for customers to use. The company said it is still working out the details. If all goes well, passengers may soon be able to take Uber rides without a safety driver present. READ MORE ON ROBOTAXIS MAKING WAYVES Brit driverless car firm raises $1bn in Europe's biggest AI deal to date Uber has previously said it intends to introduce fleets of driverless cars to its UK app as soon as legislation allows. Such journeys have become commonplace in the US, namely San Francisco, home to Google's driverless taxi firm Waymo. Andrew MacDonald, president and chief operating officer of Uber, said the partnership with Wayve would help "to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere." "This is a defining moment for UK autonomy," Wayve CEO and co-founder Alex Kendall said in a statement. "With Uber and a global OEM partner, we're preparing to put our AI Driver technology into real service on the streets of London." Watch moment passenger left TRAPPED in driverless car 'going round in circles' after robot taxi malfunctions The trial has been made possible following a change in UK regulation that aims to get driverless cars on the road sooner. The UK government was originally aiming for the tech to come to British roads in 2026, then the date was changed to the second half of 2027. However, the government's new stance is that it wants them on the roads sooner, and so it's introducing an accelerated framework for small autonomous "bus and taxi like" commercial services. The legislation will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as 'competent and careful human drivers', the Department for Transport (DfT) said. Driverless vehicles are hoped to reduce road deaths and injuries, as their systems will be more fault-proof than humans. The development of automated vehicle technology could create 38,000 jobs in the UK and add £42billion to the economy by 2035, according to the DfT. It's unclear how many customers will opt for a driverless vehicle over a car with a human behind the wheel. The experience still appears fairly daunting - even for The Sun's Assistant Technology and Science Editor, Jamie Harris, who travelled in one of Waymo's robotaxis last year. It comes as Uber plans to take on the skies over Italy's Amalfi Coast. The company has announced that high-flying customers will be able to book helicopters in minutes. From 26 July to 23 August, travellers on Italy's Amalfi Coast can reserve a private Uber Copter to ferry them between Sorrento and Capri. Using the Uber app, passengers can book helicopter travel for €250 (around £184) per head to beat summer crowds. 4 It comes as Uber plans to take on the skies over Italy's Amalfi Coast Credit: Getty
