...ROBOTAXIS...ROBOTAXIS...
BRITONS CLOSER TO BOOKING DRIVERLESS TAXIS AS GOVERNMENT OPENS PILOT APPLICATIONS
Passengers across Britain could be booking taxi and bus-style self- driving vehicles later this year as applications officially opened on 22 May, for operators to run autonomous vehciles (AVs). The new government pilot scheme marks a major milestone toward fully commercial passenger services, allowing prominent technology and transport firms - including Wayve, Uber, and Waymo - to test bookable driverless journeys. Proponents argue the cutting- edge technology will transform the British economy and society. Ministers project the AV sector could create thousands of high- skilled jobs and unlock billions of pounds by 2035, while Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Chief Executive, Mike Hawes, noted automated services could be worth £3.7b a year by 2040. Beyond financial growth, the
services aim to dramatically improve transport accessibility and freedom for older adults and disabled passengers. Safety remains the central focus of the initiative, particularly as government data shows human error currently contributes to 88% of collisions on UK roads. The pilots will gather vital real- world evidence on how these vehicles navigate everyday traffic, busy streets, and passenger safety. Before hitting the roads, operators must pass rigorous government approval processes, including strict safety and cyber security threat assessments. Additionally, local transport authorities, such as TfL, must grant local consent to ensure services align with regional priorities. The initiative follows a government Call for Evidence on autonomous regulations that closed in March.
EUROPE’S FIRST ROBOTAXI
Croatian company, Verne, has launched what it claims is Europe’s first commercial robotaxi service, beginning a phased rollout in Zagreb. Backed by Uber and using technology from the self-driving firm
Pony.ai, the service has been operating ten AVs for limited customers since early April. Despite similar services being available in China and the US for years, multiple companies are still competing to bring autonomous taxi services to European roads. While a human “operator” remains
22
SERVICE HITS CROATIAN STREETS to
behind the wheel for safety, Verne aims to move
completely
driverless trips by the end of 2026. The service is currently limited to specific zones, including the city centre and the airport. Verne CEO Marko Pejkovic explained that “expansion is gradual, with each new zone introduced only after detailed validation and once the system is proven reliable in real- world conditions.” Verne is already in talks to expand to 11 other cities across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.
Learnings from these upcoming pilots will directly shape the final rules for wider, permanent deploy- ment. London is poised to be at the forefront of this transport revolution. Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber, said: “London has long been a pioneering city for Uber, where we’ve launched some of our biggest innovations, and we can’t wait to give people in the capital the chance to experience autonomous rides this year.” Ben Loewenstein, Waymo’s Head of Policy and Government Affairs for the UK and Europe, praised the initiative, saying: “The UK is leading the way in enabling the safe deployment of pilot AV services.” He added that Waymo, which already provides over 500k weekly rides across 11 US metro-politan areas, hopes to soon join London’s network to
“demonstrate the
safety, accessibility, sustain-ability benefits of battery-electric AVs.” Ultimately, the government views the pilot as a safe stepping stone toward a radically different tran- sport landscape.
Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said: “Self-driving vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for Britain, opening up independent travel for disabled people and older adults, whilst driving growth and creating high- skilled jobs across the UK. “This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self- driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first.”
JUNE 2026 PHTM
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