Uber has launched autonomous ride-hailing services in London in partnership with British artificial intelligence company Wayve, marking a major expansion of its robotaxi operations in Europe.

The development comes shortly after Uber exited Nigeria, where the ride-hailing company operated for more than 12 years before ending its service in the country.

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

At the initial stage of the London deployment, fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles will be available to passengers.

Customers requesting UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric rides may be matched with one of the autonomous vehicles without paying an additional charge.

However, the vehicles will not initially operate completely without human supervision. A licensed operator will remain inside each vehicle to monitor the journey and take control when necessary.

Uber said fully driverless operations could be introduced in the future, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.

The company’s Global Head of Autonomous Mobility, Sarfraz Maredia, said the initial launch would help build confidence among passengers and government authorities as the technology develops.

He described the deployment as an opportunity to demonstrate the capabilities of autonomous vehicles to the public while helping regulators understand the technology.

British Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander also welcomed the development, describing it as an important milestone for the future of transportation in London.

The autonomous vehicles are powered by Wayve’s AI Driver, which is designed to learn from experience and adapt to different roads, weather conditions, vehicles and cities.

Wayve Chief Executive Officer 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 and driving environment.

Despite the launch, fully driverless services are not yet available. The vehicles must go through regulatory processes involving Transport for London and other relevant authorities before they can operate without a human operator.

Uber and Wayve began their partnership in 2024, with Uber also investing in the British technology company as part of its plans to deploy Wayve-powered autonomous vehicles in several markets.

The London launch is part of Uber’s wider shift towards autonomous mobility as the company seeks to incorporate self-driving technology into its ride-hailing business.

The move comes at a time when technology companies and transportation firms are investing heavily in artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, with the aim of transforming how passengers travel in major cities.

For Uber, the London deployment represents another step in its robotaxi ambitions, even as the company has recently withdrawn its ride-hailing operation from Nigeria after more than a decade of service.