Wayve and Uber have announced plans to initiate public-road trials of Level 4 autonomous vehicles in London next year, positioning the UK as a significant player in the development of self-driving technology.
This collaboration will leverage Wayve’s Embodied AI platform and Uber’s extensive mobility network, aiming to scale the deployment of autonomous vehicles across Europe.
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The initiative has been made possible by the UK Secretary of State for Transport which has a framework for self-driving commercial pilots, aimed to establish the UK as a leader in autonomous vehicle technology.
Wayve CEO and co-founder Alex Kendall said: “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.”
Wayve and Uber will work closely with the UK Government and Transport for London to navigate the permitting and regulatory approval process before the trials commence in spring 2026.
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By GlobalDataSecretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander said: “Today’s agreement, between two leading names at the forefront of the sector, is a fantastic vote of confidence in this new technology. 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 to our economy.”
In 2024, the partners entered a multi-year collaboration to integrate Wayve’s Embodied AI into vehicles operating on the Uber platform.
Uber president and chief operating officer Andrew Macdonald added: “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.
“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.”
Additionally, in March, Wayve expanded its operations by setting up an on-road testing and development hub in Germany.
This move is part of the company’s strategy to enhance its automated driving technology and prepare for the upcoming trials in London with Uber.
