TfL greenlights Wayve’s autonomous vehicles in the City
Transport for London (TfL) has granted British autonomous driving firm Wayve a licence to operate its cars in the City, a move which will see robotaxis will make their first appearance in the capital later this year.
Wayve said on Wednesday that TfL has approved a fleet of autonomous Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles to operate across London with Private Hire Vehicles Licenses.
Uber will manage and operate the vehicles, with test rides available for Londoners available “later this summer”.
However, under the terms of the license, there must be a qualified human driver present in the car that can “oversee the trip and provide support or take over driving if needed.”
Also under the license’s terms, the driver, operator, and vehicle must all hold licenses with the same licensing authority.
The fleet of cars planned to be used on the City’s streets have been modified to include cameras on the roof and mirrors, and Wayve said the cars “were inspected to confirm that these vehicles meet all of TfL’s policy and safety standards.”
Sarah Gates, VP global affairs and assurance at Wayve said the move is “an important step towards giving Londoners the chance to experience autonomous driving technology.”
“The responsible deployment of these vehicles will bring us safer, cleaner and quieter streets, and we’re proud to continue working alongside regulators, communities, and the public as we take the next steps towards making autonomous rides a reality in the capital,” Gates said.
‘A worrying development’
GMB Union, a major British trade union which represents thousands of private hire drivers in London, said TfL’s decision to grant Wayve the licenses is “a worrying development”.
“We can’t go charging ahead with new technologies without considering the implications of autonomous vehicles on all parties,” GMB regional organiser, Matthew Wright said.
“GMB urges TfL to proceed with extreme caution,” he said.
TfL was contacted for comment.