Uber launches robotaxi rides in London with human supervisors on board

Uber has begun offering rides in autonomous vehicles in London through a partnership with British self-driving technology company Wayve. The service is integrated into existing ride categories — customers requesting an UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric trip may be matched with a Ford Mustang Mach-E fitted with Wayve's autonomous driving system.

Riders will receive a notification before an autonomous vehicle is dispatched to them, giving them the option to request a traditional car instead if they prefer.

Regulatory hurdles

Getting the service off the ground required clearing significant regulatory obstacles. Uber only received its license to operate autonomous vehicles in London last month, and that license requires a human supervisor to be present in the car at all times. It may be some time before any operator is permitted to run autonomous vehicles without a person in the driver's seat.

Uber says fares for autonomous vehicle rides will match its standard pricing. However, unlike regular trips, passengers will not be automatically prompted to leave a tip, despite the presence of a human supervisor. Those who wish to tip can still do so manually through the Trip History section of the app.

Uber's autonomous vehicles have already been operating for some time in several US cities, including Dallas, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Austin, with plans to expand to Los Angeles and the Bay Area. The company also confirmed its partnership with Wayve will continue, with the next joint project bringing Nissan autonomous vehicles to Tokyo.