Robotaxis are coming to London as Uber signs up Pony.ai

Driverless taxis are a step closer on Britain's roads after Uber and the Chinese self-driving company Pony.ai announced plans to launch a robotaxi service in London.

The two companies said they would begin testing Pony.ai's seventh-generation robotaxis in London in the coming weeks, as part of an expanded partnership to bring driverless cars to Europe.

Uber's bet on autonomy

Uber has struck deals with more than 30 self-driving companies in the past few years, as it tries to win a share of driverless delivery and ride-hailing. It expects to offer autonomous trips in as many as 15 cities around the world by the end of 2026, roughly split between the United States and other countries.

Uber and Pony.ai first teamed up in May 2025, initially in the Middle East. The partnership has since grown to Europe, where they plan to deploy 2,000 robotaxis.

In August, the companies launched a driverless ride-hailing service in Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, with a third partner, Verne. Pony.ai supplies the self-driving system and the car, developed with the Chinese carmaker BAIC; Verne, founded by the Croatian electric car entrepreneur Mate Rimac, owns and runs the fleet; and Uber provides access to its app and customers.

The London service will follow a similar model, although the companies have not said who will own and run the fleet.

Competition from Wayve

Pony.ai will not be Uber's only robotaxi partner in the capital. Uber has also invested in Wayve, the British self-driving start-up, which plans to launch its own robotaxi service in London. In February, Wayve raised $1.2 billion from investors including Microsoft, Nvidia and Uber, with a further $300 million from Uber that depends on Wayve deploying robotaxis, starting in London.

The rules in the UK

The Automated Vehicles Act 2024 sets out how genuinely self-driving vehicles will be approved and who is responsible when they are in control. The Government has said it wants pilots of self-driving taxi services to begin ahead of the full rules coming into force, and companies will need permission before carrying paying passengers without a safety driver.

What about Birmingham?

No robotaxi service has been announced for Birmingham. London is the first target for most operators because of its size and the number of people who use ride-hailing apps. But cities with large ride-hailing markets and wide main roads are likely to follow if the London trials succeed.

The questions

Supporters say robotaxis could be safer than human drivers, cut costs and provide transport around the clock. Sceptics point to incidents involving driverless cars in the United States and China, and ask how they will cope with London's narrow streets, cyclists, buses and unpredictable traffic. Taxi and private hire drivers, meanwhile, worry about what the technology will mean for their jobs.