- Wayve founded in 2017 by two University of Cambridge PhD students.
- Wayve has been testing its technology in London since 2018 with safety drivers.
- TfL granted 15 private hire licences to Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with Wayve's artificial intelligence driving software.
- Rides would be offered 'later this summer' to some of the 100,000 people who signed up.
- London will be the first city in the world to use Wayve's technology for commercial journeys.
- Safety remains TfL's top priority, and any new vehicle licensed to carry passengers in London must align with its Vision Zero goal of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries by 2041.
- The licensing completes the 'triple-lock' for private hire trips.
- Wayve is working with Nissan and Stellantis to deploy its systems in private vehicles.
- Driverless operation would require DVSA approval via an automated passenger services permit.
- Minicab drivers' union raised concerns about job losses and liability as TfL approved the licences.
- Uber's Annie Duvnjak described the milestone as key to bringing autonomous rides to London.
- Wayve's six-camera Mustang Mach-E setup was deemed safe by experts.
London has opened the door to autonomous taxis with a tightly supervised pilot, issuing 15 private hire licences to Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles running Wayve's AI software, with a human safety driver on board.
These licences represent a cautious entry into commercial robotaxi trials in London, designed to prove the technology in real traffic while keeping oversight intact.
Safety is our top priority. Any new vehicle licensed to carry passengers on Londons roads must align with our Vision Zero goal of eliminating all deaths and serious injuries from collisions on Londons streets by 2041.
That quote from TfL anchors the regulatory stance as the project proceeds, with a triple-lock requirement ensuring the operator, driver and vehicle are licensed by the same authority. For full driverless operation, a separate approval would be required from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
More than 100,000 Londoners are on a waiting list for robotaxis, and some may get rides later this summer ahead of a full public launch.
The cars are equipped with camera pods, mirrors and radar units on electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles, and the taxi app company Uber and Wayve say the licences are a key milestone toward commercial deployment.
Wayve founder Sarah Gates calls it "an important step towards giving Londoners the chance to experience autonomous driving technology", while Uber’s Annie Duvnjak describes it as a "key milestone in bringing autonomous rides to London on Uber". TfL will monitor ongoing operations and intervene if passenger safety is compromised, with the next phase requiring formal government approvals before any driverless service can run.
London will be the first city in the world to use its technology for commercial journeys, and the approach tests the feasibility of autonomous public rides under close supervision before wider rollout.
“The 15 licensed Ford Mustang Mach-Es use Wayve's AI with six cameras and radar, and TfL's 'Vision Zero' goal targets eliminating all road deaths by 2041. GMB union's Matthew Wright called the decision 'a worrying development' for private hire drivers' jobs.”
The Guardian
