Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are vehicles that can largely drive
themselves without human input, combining digital data
transmission and automation technologies to make driving
decisions.[1] AVs which transport passengers via
ride-hailing are referred to as ‘autonomous passenger vehicles'
(more commonly known as ‘driverless taxis' or ‘robotaxis').
Although autonomous passenger vehicles have not been rolled out
on a commercial basis in the UK, several companies, including
Uber, Lyft and UK company Wayve, are seeking to obtain regulatory
approval to transport passengers in AVs in London as soon as this
year.[2]
Tomorrow, the London Assembly Transport
Committee will begin its investigation into how
autonomous passenger vehicles may work in practice and how they
could impact jobs, licensing, regulation, road safety,
congestion, cyber security and Londoners' transport choices.
The guests are:
-
Thomas Ableman, Host of the ‘Freewheeling'
Podcast and former Director for Strategy and Innovation at
Transport for London
-
Prof Jack Stilgoe, Professor of Science and
Technology Policy, UCL
-
Prof Lyons, Mott MacDonald
Professor of Future Mobility, UWE Bristol
-
Dr Nick Reed, Founder, Reed Mobility and
member of DfT Science Advisory Council
The meeting will take place on Tuesday 9 June at
10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie
Way, E16 1ZE.
Notes for editors:
- Caltrans, Connected and Automated
Vehicles [accessed 28 April 2026]
- See for example: BBC News, Uber and Lyft announce plans to
trial Chinese robotaxis in UK in 2026, 22 December 2025 and
Wayve, Wayve and Uber Partner to Launch
L4 Autonomy Trials in the UK, 10 June 2025
- Read the agenda in
full
