Sun, 18 May 2025

Sun, 18 May 2025 UK driverless cars unlikely until 2027 - but Uber says it's ready now

The previous government had said autonomous vehicles were "set to be on the road" by 2026.
Uber says it's ready to launch driverless taxis in the UK, but the government has delayed the approval date until 2027. The previous target was 2026, and experts say limited self-driving technology is already permitted on UK roads with a human driver in charge. The company is working with 18 automated car tech companies, including Wayve, and offers robotaxis in several countries, but insists it's not behind the rest of the world. In fact, Uber's senior vice president of mobility Andrew Macdonald argues that other countries have an advantage because they are where most of the technology has been developed. The Department for Transport says it is "working quickly" to implement self-driving vehicle legislation and exploring options for short-term trials and pilots to create a thriving sector. However, there are still concerns about public safety, with 37% of Brits feeling "very unsafe" travelling in a car without a driver. Uber claims that its customers' initial nervousness is short-lived, and the experience soon becomes normal. The company is currently offering automated rides in London, using a Ford Mach-e fitted with Wayve's autonomous driving sensors and software. However, there have been incidents involving robotaxis, including road accidents and passengers being locked in vehicles. Experts say that safety concerns need to be addressed before self-driving taxis can become a reality in the UK. Insurance, ownership, and liability are also still being worked out, and experts warn that robotaxis will need to be "safety-led" in the UK. The government estimates that self-driving vehicles could create an industry worth £42bn and provide 38,000 jobs by 2035, but there are concerns about the potential impact on workers who earn a living driving. Uber's Andrew Macdonald believes automated vehicles will transform the way people travel, and his own children may not need to learn how to drive when they grow up.
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