Uber launches waitlist for Wayve robotaxis in London.

      London’s robotaxi era is beginning with a sign-up form. Uber has launched a waitlist for residents interested in riding in a self-driving vehicle, indicating that driverless taxis are set to hit the streets of the capital.

      The rides will be powered by Wayve, a London-based self-driving startup, under a partnership in which Uber owns and manages the fleet while Wayve provides the “AI Driver” that handles the driving. The waitlist, as reported by Bloomberg, has opened ahead of a commercial trial that the two companies plan to start in London in 2026.

      The timing is intentional.

      The UK has expedited its regulations for commercial self-driving trials, with the Department for Transport introducing a permitting system that allows driverless taxi and bus services to operate without a safety driver on board.

      Uber and Wayve aim to deploy SAE Level 4 vehicles, which can manage all driving tasks within a defined area without human assistance.

      Wayve is one of the most valuable AI startups in Europe, having raised $1.2 billion last year in a round that it has since expanded, backed by investors including Uber, SoftBank, Nvidia, as well as more recent supporters AMD, Arm, and Qualcomm. Its approach to autonomy is based on a more generalized learning model, as opposed to the heavily mapped systems used by some competitors—an idea that its founders, trained in Cambridge, were previously told would never succeed.

      However, it won’t be the only player in London’s robotaxi market.

      Waymo, Alphabet’s robotaxi division, intends to launch a passenger service in the city by the third quarter of 2026 and has indicated that its vehicles may operate without a driver from the outset. Meanwhile, Uber is diversifying its partnerships and locations, already planning robotaxi ventures with Wayve and Nissan in Tokyo, as well as WeRide in Madrid.

      Not everyone is optimistic.

      London's black-cab drivers, who have maintained their knowledge of the city’s streets as a barrier to entry for over a century, are doubtful about vehicles that learn to drive from data. Their concern mirrors the worries of taxi drivers in other locations where robotaxis are introduced: that an algorithm capable of working around the clock could drastically alter the economic landscape overnight.

      For Uber, the waitlist also serves as an indicator of demand and a marketing tool. The company reported that autonomous trips surged tenfold year-over-year in its latest quarter, and London ranks among its most valuable markets. The challenge now is whether riders will accept a steering wheel that drives itself in a city known for confusing newcomers.