Overview

• The Department for Transport has moved the pilot start date for fully autonomous vehicles to spring 2026, one year ahead of the original 2027 schedule.
• Uber will deploy Wayve’s level four electric vehicles without safety drivers in London, marking its largest European autonomous trial to date.
• Transport secretary Heidi Alexander forecasts the sector will create 38,000 jobs and contribute £42 billion to the UK economy by 2035.
• Wayve’s end-to-end AI driver model enables vehicles to navigate diverse urban conditions without relying on high-definition maps.
• All trials require government and Transport for London sign-off under strict safety protocols before any commercial rollout.