Uber Starts Self-Driving Rides in London, With a Human Still at the Wheel
On Sept. 3, Uber began matching riders in London with self-driving cars built by the British company Wayve, the two firms said in a joint announcement. A trained driver sits behind the wheel of every car.
The vehicles are all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-Es fitted with Wayve's driving software and surround sensors, according to the release, which says "a trained and TfL licensed private hire driver is onboard to oversee the trip." Transport for London licenses the city's private-hire drivers. The cars are not driverless.
Uber and Wayve say the service is starting "with a small number of vehicles in this initial phase." Neither company has said how many cars are running, and neither has published figures on how often the driver on board takes control.
The two companies describe the launch as "the first time autonomous trips are available in the United Kingdom." The claim is the companies' own, and it is limited to the UK.
More than 140,000 Londoners have opted in to be matched with an autonomous vehicle, according to the release. Each car carries an interactive screen that the companies say is available in 64 languages.
Uber puts the number of markets covered by its partnership with Wayve at 12.
