Uber launches its London robotaxi service with Wayve, bringing autonomous rides to the UK capital weeks after exiting Nigeria after 12 years

Uber has launched autonomous rides in London in partnership with British artificial intelligence company Wayve, opening a new chapter in the ride-hailing giant’s robotaxi expansion shortly after its exit from Nigeria.

Also read: Uber Exits Nigeria After 12 Years of Operations

The London launch was announced on Thursday, September 3, 2026, with fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles initially available to passengers using Uber’s platform.

Passengers requesting UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric could be matched with one of the autonomous vehicles without paying an additional charge.

For now, the vehicles will not operate completely without human supervision. A licensed operator will remain inside each car to monitor the journey as the technology is tested on London’s roads.

Fully driverless operations are expected later, subject to regulatory approval.

The Uber London robotaxi rollout makes the British capital the second European city where Uber offers autonomous rides, following the company’s earlier launch in Zagreb, Croatia.

Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, said the London deployment would be important in building confidence among passengers and public authorities.

“This will build credibility with consumers as well as with the government,” Maredia said.

British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the development as an important step for the future of transportation in the capital.

“This is a major milestone for the future of transport in London, as British innovation brings this technology onto our roads and gives passengers more choice,” Alexander said.

The vehicles are powered by Wayve’s AI Driver, a technology designed to learn from driving experience and adapt to different roads, vehicles, weather conditions and urban environments.

Wayve CEO and co-founder Alex Kendall said London provided a particularly demanding environment in which to introduce the technology to the public.

“We’re proud to introduce the Wayve AI Driver to the public for the first time right here in London, our home city and one of the most complex driving environments in the world,” Kendall said.

The deployment will nevertheless remain subject to regulatory requirements.

Transport for London and other relevant authorities must complete the necessary approval processes before the vehicles can operate without a human operator.

Uber and Wayve began working together in 2024, with Uber also investing in the British technology company as part of a broader strategy to develop and deploy autonomous vehicles across different markets.

The London rollout comes at a notable moment for Uber in Nigeria. The company recently ended its ride-hailing operations in the country after more than 12 years, bringing its Nigerian chapter to a close as the company continues to pursue new opportunities in autonomous mobility.

The contrasting developments highlight the changing direction of Uber’s global business, with the company investing in advanced transportation technology while reassessing its presence in individual markets.

For London passengers, the immediate experience will remain a hybrid one, with autonomous technology handling the driving while a licensed human operator provides oversight.

Also read: Uber Exits Nigeria After 12 Years of Operations

For Uber and Wayve, however, the ambition is considerably bigger: to demonstrate that AI-powered vehicles can safely navigate one of Europe’s most complex cities and eventually operate without a driver behind the wheel.