SHERIDAN, WYOMING – June 17, 2025 – Londoners may soon hail a ride without a driver at the wheel, thanks to a new partnership between Wayve and Uber that brings Level 4 (L4) autonomous vehicle trials to the UK’s bustling capital. This collaboration marks the largest announced AV trial market for Uber and signals a major leap toward everyday autonomous mobility.
Wayve’s Embodied AI platform will power the initiative, blending cutting-edge AI with Uber’s global mobility network to explore how autonomous vehicles can navigate one of the world’s most complex urban environments.
Testing the Future on London Streets
Navigating London’s dense traffic, unique road layouts, and varied traffic rules offers a formidable challenge for self-driving tech—one that Wayve and Uber are eager to tackle.
The UK government’s recent move to fast-track commercial pilot frameworks for self-driving vehicles adds urgency and momentum to the project. Wayve and Uber are working closely with both Transport for London and the UK Department for Transport to secure the necessary permits and approvals before launch.
Bold Steps Toward Scalable Autonomy
For Wayve, this trial is not just a milestone—it’s a mission in motion. As CEO and co-founder Alex Kendall put it, “This is a defining moment for UK autonomy. With Uber and a global OEM partner, we’re preparing to put our AI Driver technology into real service on the streets of London, delivering on our AV2.0 vision for scalable autonomy. Our Embodied AI learns to drive anywhere, in any vehicle, and this trial brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond.”
Uber’s leadership echoes the enthusiasm. “We’re excited to take the next step in our journey with Wayve, bringing autonomous mobility to one of the world’s busiest and most complex urban environments,” said Andrew Macdonald, president and chief operating officer of Uber. “Wayve’s globally scalable AV2.0 approach makes them an ideal partner to bring Uber’s autonomous vision to reality in new cities around the world. Our vision is to make autonomy a safe and reliable option for riders everywhere, and this trial in London brings that future closer to reality.”
A National Boost for Innovation and Jobs
The UK government is optimistic about the partnership’s broader benefits. “The agreement, between two leading names at the forefront of the sector, is a fantastic vote of confidence in this new technology,” said Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport. “By fast-tracking pilots of self-driving vehicles to spring 2026, we are excited to see safety-first tests that will drive growth, create 38,000 jobs and add £42bn [US$57bn] to our economy.”
AI That Learns Like a Human
Wayve’s Embodied AI doesn’t just follow a script—it learns from experience, adapting to new vehicles, road conditions, and traffic patterns in real time. This flexibility was demonstrated impressively in the company’s recent Global Roadshow, where one AI Driver navigated 90 cities across Europe, North America, and Japan in just 90 days.
Kendall explained, “We drove through Tokyo, Milan and Montana, all with the same AI model. That’s the power of AV2.0. It’s what gives us the confidence to launch a driverless ride-hailing service with Uber, starting in London and expanding to other cities around the world.”
Next Steps on the Road to Autonomy
The partnership between Wayve and Uber was first announced in 2024, focusing on integrating Wayve’s AI into Uber’s fleet. With this next phase, the collaboration moves from planning to practice, with real-world trials on UK roads.
While details about the automotive manufacturing partner and specific trial start dates are still to come, consumers can look forward to seeing autonomous ride-hailing roll out in the UK as early as 2026.
Learn more at www.wayve.ai