ROBOTAXIS


UBER DECLARES IT’S READY TO GO FOR DRIVERLESS TAXI ROLLOUT IN UK


Uber has announced its readiness to launch driverless taxi services in the UK, stating it could deploy the technology immediately upon regulatory approval. Andrew Macdonald, Uber’s senior VP of mobility, said the company is prepared to introduce robotaxis as soon as the “regulatory environ- ment is ready.” Uber already collaborates with 18 AV companies globally, including UK- based Wayve, and offers driverless rides in select areas of the US. This declaration follows the UK’s Automated Vehicles Act 2024, which paves the way for AVs on British roads by 2026.


While the DfT has indicated that consultations to


finalise the


regulatory framework are under- way, with full deployment targeted for 2027, Uber’s statement suggests a faster potential timeline. The government anticipates the new legislation could create over 38,000 jobs by 2035 and signific- antly reduce road accidents by eliminating human error, which it claims contributing to 88% of collisions. However,


concerns persist


regarding passenger safety, public acceptance, and the suitability of UK road networks, particularly in London, for autonomous driving.


A 2024 YouGov poll revealed 37 per cent of Britons would feel “very unsafe” in a driverless car. A recent London-specific report revealed that those feeling safe had risen from two to ten per cent. Scepticism also remains among traditional drivers. Grant Davis, chair of the London Cab Drivers Club, labelled robotaxis as ill- suited to


London’s “narrow,


unpredictable roads” and raised concerns about risks for late-night passengers. Despite these doubts, Uber maintains that consumer accept- ance


grows rapidly once technology is in practical use.


WAYMO & TOYOTA TO DEVELOP SELF-DRIVING TECH FOR RIDE-HAILING AND PERSONAL VEHICLES


In a significant move signalling the growing convergence of auto- nomous technology and traditional automotive manufacturing, Waymo, Google’s self-driving division, and Toyota have


announced a


preliminary agreement to collaborate on the development of autonomous driving technology. The partnership aims to create a new AV platform with applications for both ride-hailing services and, notably, personally owned vehicles. While Waymo has established itself as a frontrunner in the autonomous ride-hailing sector, this collaboration marks a potential shift towards integrating its technology into vehicles for individual ownership. This move positions the partnership to


PHTM JUNE 2025


directly compete with Tesla, which has been a strong proponent of self-driving technology for personal use, despite its current Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems operating at Level 2 autonomy. The partnership seeks to leverage Toyota’s extensive expertise in vehicle development and manufacturing with Waymo’s advanced autonomous driving capabilities. The companies stated they will work together to create a


new AV platform, though specific details regarding the timeline and intended uses of this platform remain undisclosed. The alliance between Waymo and Toyota signals a potential broadening of AV applications. This development comes after earlier setbacks in the AV industry, such as the fatal crash involving an Uber self-driving car in 2018, which temporarily derailed its autonomous fleet plans. Industry analysts suggest that this alliance


could lead to the


integration of Waymo’s technology directly into Toyota production vehicles later this decade, potentially accelerating the widespread adoption of advanced autonomous driving features in consumer cars.


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