Uber, Wayve to Launch Robotaxi Service in London This Summer

LONDON — Wayve, a London-based artificial intelligence startup, and Uber announced plans to begin robotaxi operations in the British capital this summer, pending final regulatory approvals. The companies said the service will make Wayve the first company to launch a commercial autonomous taxi service in the United Kingdom. Wayve Vice President of Commercial Operations Kaity Fischer told AFP the companies are awaiting necessary approvals and aim to launch within the coming months. The initial rollout will include a licensed operator behind the wheel, with fully driverless rides expected at a later stage. Wayve will compete against Waymo, the autonomous vehicle unit owned by Alphabet, Google's parent company, and China's Baidu in the UK market. Uber has opened an interest list for UK customers wishing to receive updates about the service launch.