UK Pushes Back Driverless Car Rollout to 2027 as Uber Says It’s Ready to Launch

Uber says it is ready to deploy driverless taxis on UK roads, but new government timelines suggest fully autonomous vehicles won’t be approved until late 2027.

While previous government projections aimed for a 2026 rollout, the Department for Transport has now confirmed that legislation enabling fully self-driving cars will likely come into effect in the second half of 2027. In the meantime, Uber says its technology is prepared for the roads as soon as regulations allow.

“We’re ready to launch robotaxis in the UK as soon as the regulatory environment is ready for us,” said Andrew Macdonald, Uber’s senior vice president of mobility, during a test ride in central London.

The journey, conducted in a Ford Mach-E equipped with self-driving technology developed by UK-based firm Wayve, highlighted the potential of autonomous driving. The vehicle navigated London traffic without intervention – handling pedestrians, parked cars, and traffic lights with ease.

Although current UK law allows limited self-driving features, human drivers remain responsible. Uber, which already operates robotaxis in the US, China, the UAE, and Singapore, is partnering with 18 self-driving tech firms including Wayve to bring the service to Britain.

Despite growing global adoption, public trust remains an obstacle. A 2024 YouGov survey found that 37% of Britons would feel “very unsafe” in a driverless vehicle. Still, Macdonald believes people quickly adapt. “It becomes the new normal,” he said.

Inside the vehicle, a safety driver named George remained hands-off throughout the ride, and the emergency stop button was never touched. The AI-driven system, powered by a boot-mounted computer connected to radar and cameras, processed data in real-time and handled every road scenario encountered.

Yet, the global record for robotaxis isn’t spotless. Incidents in the US, including a case in Arizona where a passenger was trapped in a self-driving vehicle, have raised safety concerns. General Motors paused its Cruise robotaxi service in San Francisco in 2023 following several high-profile issues.

“The reality is that one accident is too many,” Macdonald admitted. “But we operate in the real world – and things happen.”

In the UK, unanswered questions remain around liability, insurance, and accident responsibility in the context of autonomous vehicles. Thatcham Research’s vehicle technology manager, Tom Leggett, emphasized the importance of a safety-first approach, adding that proper data-sharing protocols must be in place for insurers and investigators.

The government maintains that self-driving technology could contribute up to £42 billion to the UK economy and create 38,000 jobs by 2035. But not everyone is optimistic. GMB union leader Andy Prendergast warned of “significant social implications” for professional drivers and called for a thorough review of the impact on employment.

As the debate continues, Uber is betting big on the future of mobility. “I’ve got young kids,” said Macdonald. “Do I think they’ll bother getting a licence at 16? Probably not. The world is changing.”