Uber has unveiled a limited robotaxi service in London, just a day after ending its 12-year ride-hailing operation in Nigeria.
The global mobility company on Thursday started the introduction of the autonomous vehicle service in partnership with Wayve, a UK-based self-driving technology company, as it intensifies efforts to make autonomous transportation a major part of its global business.
This development came barely 24 hours after Uber announced its exit from Nigeria, where it had operated for 12 years.
The London launch marks a significant shift in the company’s strategy, with Uber increasingly investing in autonomous mobility and partnerships with technology and automotive companies.
The initial London service comprises fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E electric vehicles.
The vehicles are equipped with Wayve’s artificial intelligence-powered driving system, which uses cameras, radar and AI models to navigate roads and respond to changing traffic conditions.
However, the vehicles are not yet fully driverless.
A licensed human operator will remain inside each vehicle to monitor the journey and intervene when necessary, pending further regulatory approvals for fully autonomous operations.
The robotaxi service has been integrated into the existing Uber platform. Passengers requesting UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric in selected areas could be matched with one of the autonomous vehicles without paying an additional fee.
Uber said passengers would be notified when they were matched with a robotaxi and would have the option of continuing with the autonomous vehicle or switching to a conventional ride.
For Uber, the London rollout represents more than the introduction of another transportation option.
The company views autonomous vehicles as an important part of its next phase of growth and has been expanding partnerships with technology firms and vehicle manufacturers to accelerate the development and deployment of self-driving services.
Uber’s partnership with Wayve began in 2024, when the ride-hailing company invested directly in the British startup as both companies worked towards deploying autonomous vehicles in multiple markets.
Speaking on the London launch, Uber’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, said the service would help the company build confidence among consumers and governments as it expands its autonomous mobility plans.
London was selected as an important testing ground because of the complexity of its roads and traffic conditions.
Wayve Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, Alex Kendall, described London as one of the world’s most challenging driving environments.
The companies are also planning to expand their autonomous vehicle partnership beyond the British capital.
Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, said the company plans to extend its autonomous partnerships to other markets, including Tokyo, where Wayve-powered Nissan Leaf vehicles are expected to be introduced later this year.
The development places Uber within a growing global race among technology companies and automakers to commercialise self-driving transportation.
For now, human operators remain part of London’s robotaxi experiment. However, the rollout signals Uber’s growing push towards a future in which autonomous vehicles could play a major role in the ride-hailing industry.
While the company has withdrawn from some traditional markets, including Nigeria, Uber is simultaneously increasing its focus on autonomous technology, which it believes could shape the next phase of urban mobility.
