Uber Launches Robotaxi Service in London
American company Uber, together with British startup Wayve, will for the first time begin transporting passengers in London in autonomous robotaxis, reports The New York Times.
Consensus
- Uber and Wayve are launching a robotaxi service in London.
- The service involves 15 vehicles available for passenger transport.
- Each robotaxi has a safety driver on board who can take control if needed.
- The robotaxis are accessible through the Uber app in London.
- Users can choose whether to ride in a robotaxi or be matched with a regular taxi with a driver.
- Other companies like Waymo and Baidu are also testing autonomous vehicles in London but without passengers.
- The UK government has not yet approved fully driverless operations.
- London's complex traffic environment, including high numbers of cyclists and pedestrians and intricate intersections, presents a challenge for autonomous vehicles.
Points of divergence
- The test phase will begin this week. — meduza
- The UK government is expected to allow broader deployment of the technology no earlier than 2027 or 2028. — meduza
- The new UK Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has not publicly stated his position on robotaxis. — meduza
- The previous UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, supported the industry. — meduza
- The launch occurred on Thursday, September 3. — interfax
- Alex Kendall stated that London is a particularly difficult environment for autonomous vehicles due to over 15 times more cyclists and pedestrians than San Francisco and complex intersections like roundabouts. — interfax
Coverage (2 sources)
- Uber will begin testing robotaxis with passengers in London for the first time — Meduza
- Uber and Wayve launch robotaxi service in London — Интерфакс