Uber, Wayve Launch Level 4 Autonomous Vehicle Trials in London

Uber Technologies has partnered with UK-based AI startup Wayve to launch Level 4 autonomous vehicle trials in London, with operations expected to begin in spring 2026. This initiative is supported by the UK Government's accelerated framework for self-driving commercial pilots, aiming to advance safe and reliable autonomous mobility in complex urban environments while potentially creating 38,000 jobs and adding £42 billion to the economy by 2035. Wayve's Embodied AI technology enables the vehicles to navigate London traffic using camera inputs without relying on detailed maps, allowing adaptability to sudden changes and new road layouts. The trials will be conducted with fallback safety drivers and involve close collaboration with Transport for London and the Department for Transport for regulatory approval and safety monitoring. Uber's president Andrew Macdonald highlighted London as a challenging market that demonstrates progress toward everyday driverless travel, with plans to expand autonomous services to other UK cities and European markets. This marks Uber's largest autonomous vehicle pilot to date, supported by significant investments in Wayve from major tech firms like SoftBank, Nvidia, and Microsoft.