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British start-up Wayve, in partnership with Uber, will begin commercial robotaxi rides in London this summer with a human operator on board initially. US rival Waymo, which already operates in 11 US cities, is expected to follow shortly after. China's Baidu, partnering with Lyft, will test in the coming weeks before launching in London later this year.
Why it matters
London's complex streets—with 20 times more road construction than San Francisco and 10 times more vulnerable road users—present a real test of autonomous vehicle technology. Britain's government has sped up regulation to move ahead of the EU, and expects the autonomous vehicle sector to generate 38,000 jobs and £42 billion ($55 billion（約8.8兆円）) by 2035. However, companies face public trust challenges after high-profile mishaps, including Baidu vehicles stalling in central China and Waymo recalling nearly 4,000 cars after robotaxis entered closed-off highway construction areas.
What to watch
Londoners can take their first commercial rides with Wayve this summer, with fares likely to be "pretty similar" to traditional taxis at launch. The sector's complexity means companies may collaborate in some cities while competing in others.
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