Uber Rolls Out London's First Paid Robotaxi Service, Edging Out Waymo

Uber has become the first company to offer paid robotaxi rides in London, reaching the milestone before rival Waymo could make its own debut in the city. The service relies on autonomous driving technology built by Wayve, a UK-based startup, rather than hardware and software developed in-house.

For the initial phase, the vehicles will not operate fully driverless. A safety driver will remain behind the wheel to monitor the system and take over if needed, a common precaution when autonomous services first hit public roads.

The launch marks a significant step for Uber, which has spent years working to position itself in the autonomous vehicle space. By partnering with a local technology provider, the company gets an early foothold in one of Europe’s most closely watched markets for self-driving services.