Uber has launched autonomous ride-hailing services in London in partnership with British artificial intelligence company Wayve, expanding its robotaxi operations into another major European market.

London is now the second European city where Uber offers autonomous rides, following the launch of its robotaxi service in Zagreb, according to Reuters.

The initial rollout will involve fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. Passengers booking UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric may be matched with an autonomous vehicle at no additional cost.

A licensed operator will remain inside the vehicles during the initial phase to monitor journeys. Uber said fully driverless operations could be introduced later, subject to regulatory approval.

Sarfraz Maredia, Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility, said the launch would help strengthen public and government confidence in autonomous driving technology.

“This will build credibility with consumers as well as with the government,” Maredia said.

British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander described the launch as a major milestone for London’s transport system, saying the technology would give passengers more choice.

Wayve’s AI Driver is designed to learn from experience and adapt to different roads, vehicles, weather conditions and cities. Chief executive and co-founder Alex Kendall said London was an ideal location for the company’s first public deployment because of the complexity of its roads.

Fully driverless services cannot begin immediately, as regulatory requirements, including approvals involving Transport for London, must still be completed.

Uber partnered with Wayve in 2024 and invested in the British technology company as part of plans to deploy Wayve-powered autonomous vehicles across multiple markets. The London rollout marks another step in Uber’s broader push into autonomous mobility.