Uber prepares for robotaxi competition with Wayve in London

UK riders can now join an interest list for autonomous rides as Uber and its $8.6B partner gear up for London's first commercial robotaxi trials.

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Add us on Google by Editorial Team Jun. 9, 2026

Uber just opened an interest list in its UK app that lets London riders opt in for matches with autonomous vehicles built by Wayve, the British self-driving startup. The feature went live on June 8, 2026, marking the clearest signal yet that commercial robotaxi service in London is no longer a matter of “if” but “when.”

Sign up, and you move to the front of the queue when Wayve’s cars start accepting passengers, pending regulatory approval.

The money behind the machines

Wayve closed a $1.5B Series D round in February 2026, pushing its valuation to $8.6B. Uber was a repeat investor in that round, doubling down on a relationship that was first formalized in June 2025 when the two companies announced a partnership targeting Level 4 autonomy trials in the UK.

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Level 4 autonomy means the car handles all driving within a defined area, no human backup driver needed.

Uber has also committed an additional $300M in funding to Wayve, contingent on hitting deployment milestones in London. Wayve only gets paid if it actually puts working robotaxis on London streets.

Waymo is coming too

London isn’t just getting one robotaxi operator. Waymo, Alphabet’s autonomous driving subsidiary, is also preparing to launch in London, setting up a direct competitive clash on UK roads.

In the US, Waymo runs its own app and fleet. In London, Uber’s strategy is to integrate Wayve’s vehicles directly into the existing Uber app, meaning riders wouldn’t need to download a separate platform or change their habits at all.

Beyond London: Tokyo and ten more cities

Uber and Wayve have announced plans to expand their robotaxi services to over 10 cities worldwide. One of the next targets is Tokyo, where the two companies are collaborating with Nissan on a robotaxi pilot targeted for late 2026.

What this means for investors

Wayve’s $8.6B valuation makes it one of Europe’s most valuable private AI companies. Investors should watch for signals from UK transport regulators in the second half of 2026, because that’s when the interest list either converts into actual rides or stalls in bureaucratic limbo.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.