Uber Technologies Inc (NYSE:UBER, ETR:UT8) will launch its first self-driving taxi service in London in 2026 as part of a broader UK trial of autonomous transport, the company and the government announced on Tuesday.
The pilot scheme will begin with safety drivers behind the wheel but aims to transition to fully driverless vehicles over time.
The move is part of a wider initiative allowing companies to test commercial driverless services, including taxis and shared shuttles, without a human operator, marking a first for the UK.
The trials are supported by the Department for Transport and will run ahead of new legislation, the Automated Vehicles Act, which is set to come into force from late 2027.
Uber called London “one of the world’s busiest and most complex urban environments” and sees the city as a proving ground for its autonomous vision.
The government believes the technology could create tens of thousands of jobs and contribute £42 billion to the UK economy.