Wayve, Uber Begin Level 4 Autonomy Trials in the UK
Autonomous car driving technology firm Wayve and Uber have announced the launch of public-road trials for fully autonomous Level 4 (L4) vehicles in London, marking the first such initiative in the UK. This development positions the UK as Uber’s largest market for piloting autonomous vehicles to date. The announcement follows a new framework from the UK secretary of state for transport, which accelerates permissions for commercial self-driving pilots. Wayve and Uber will work with the UK government and Transport for London to secure regulatory approvals before deployment. “This is a defining moment for UK autonomy,” said Alex Kendall, CEO and co-founder of Wayve. “With Uber and a global OEM partner, we’re preparing to put our AI Driver technology into real service on the streets of London.” The partnership will combine Wayve’s Embodied AI platform with Uber’s ride-hailing network. Wayve’s AV2.0 technology, which does not rely on HD maps or geofencing, allows its AI to adapt to new environments without significant pre-programming. Andrew Macdonald, president and COO of Uber, said, “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.” Trials are expected to begin by spring 2026. The UK transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, said the agreement is “a fantastic vote of confidence in this new technology”, adding that the trials could create 38,000 jobs and contribute £42 billion to the economy. The UK’s unique driving conditions, including varying road layouts and traffic laws, offer a contrasting environment to the US, where most Level 4 testing has occurred. Insights gained from the UK are expected to help improve the global scalability of autonomous systems. This initiative builds on a 2024 collaboration between Wayve and Uber to integrate Wayve’s AI into Uber-operated vehicles. The new phase will move from development to live operations, with further details on the trial and the OEM partner expected in the coming months. Wayve recently showcased its technology by deploying a single AI model across 90 cities worldwide during a 90-day roadshow. “We drove through Tokyo, Milan, and Montana—all with the same AI model,” Kendall said. “That’s the power of AV2.0.” Both companies stated their commitment to advancing safe and efficient autonomous mobility while strengthening the UK’s position in global transportation innovation.
UK becomes the largest market for Uber’s public-road autonomous vehicle testing.
Autonomous car driving technology firm Wayve and Uber have announced the launch of public-road trials for fully autonomous Level 4 (L4) vehicles in London, marking the first such initiative in the UK. This development positions the UK as Uber’s largest market for piloting autonomous vehicles to date.
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Siddharth is a media graduate who loves to explore tech through journalism and putting forward ideas worth pondering about in the era of artificial intelligence.