London is about to get a taste of the future in urban transport. Uber is gearing up to roll out driverless taxis across the city starting next year, with initial trials being supported by a safety driver ready to take charge if needed. This marks the first time England will see fully commercial driverless services in action.
Uber’s CEO, Andrew Macdonald, pointed out that navigating London’s busy, intricate roads is no small feat. Yet this challenge is driving the company to fine-tune technologies that could soon make self-driving transport a global standard. Bookings will open via the Uber app from spring 2026, setting the stage for a broader rollout pending the Automated Vehicles Act later in 2027.
This project isn’t just about reimagining mobility—it’s set to create around 38,000 jobs and inject an estimated £42 billion into the UK economy by 2025, all while boosting road safety. Government figures, including Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, have stressed the importance of keeping pace with emerging AI technologies.
Similar driverless initiatives are already in motion in parts of the US and China, where fleets of autonomous vehicles are quietly refining how technology and everyday travel blend together. As London steps into this new era of mobility, rigorous testing and robust safety standards will ensure these taxis perform as reliably as a well-trained driver.
