Watch: BBC travels in self-driving Uber around London

2026-09-03 | original

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Why This Matters

The launch of self-driving Uber taxis in London marks a significant milestone in autonomous vehicle deployment within the UK, signaling a shift towards more widespread adoption of robotaxis in urban transportation. This development impacts both the tech industry and consumers by showcasing advancements in autonomous driving technology and its potential to reshape mobility services.

Key Takeaways

First UK city to operate licensed self-driving Uber taxis.
Initial fleet of 15 autonomous vehicles with safety drivers onboard.
Fares are comparable to traditional Uber rides, with upfront pricing in the app.

Customers in London can now travel in the UK's first robotaxis as Uber launches its self-driving minicab on Thursday - the company is the first to launch the service.

Initially, it only has 15 autonomous vehicles with a licence to operate in the city, and each one must have a human safety driver behind the wheel ready to take control if anything goes wrong.

At the moment, the UK fare for a robotaxi ride will be the same fare as a standard UberX, Uber Electric, or Uber Comfort journey, with upfront fares shown in the app.

The BBC's Zoe Kleinman was the first British journalist to hail a self-driving Uber in London - here's how the ride went.

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