Wayve robotaxis licensed in Barnet: first autonomous Uber rides to start this summer
TfL grants private hire licences to 10 electric Ford Mustang Mach-Es, but a driver must remain present
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Barnet will be among the first London boroughs where autonomous taxis appear on local streets this summer. Transport for London has granted private hire vehicle licences to Wayve, the British technology company behind the self-driving Ford Mustang Mach-E fleet. Uber will begin offering test rides to a limited number of residents who registered interest, though a qualified driver must remain in the vehicle at all times.
The licences cover a small number of electric Mustang Mach-Es modified by Wayve with six cameras and other sensors. TfL’s assessment concluded the changes do not compromise passenger safety, a spokesperson told MyLondon. Each vehicle will operate under the same rules as conventional private hire cars, meaning the driver retains legal responsibility for the journey.
TfL grants first self-driving minicab licences to Uber and Wayve in London
Fifteen Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles will operate with human safety drivers from later this summer
Who can ride, and when
Uber said it will contact some of the 100,000 Londoners who signed up to experience the robotaxis. The company did not specify how many Barnet residents will be invited or which neighbourhoods will be included. Rides will begin in the coming weeks, with a full public launch dependent on further approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Wayve vice president Sarah Gates called the licence a step toward safer, cleaner streets. “The responsible deployment of these vehicles will bring us closer to making autonomous rides a reality in the capital,” she said, as reported by MyLondon. Uber’s global head of autonomous mobility operations, Annie Duvnjak, described the licence as a key milestone for Londoners keen to try the technology.
TfL grants private hire licences to Wayve autonomous Ford Mustang Mach-Es in Barnet
Uber will offer rides to selected Londoners later this summer under supervision of a qualified driver
Barnet Council’s limited role
Barnet Council has no formal authority over the trials. Responsibility for authorising self-driving vehicles on public roads rests with the Department for Transport, while TfL oversees commercial passenger services. The council confirmed it has not been consulted on the roll-out in the borough.
London Assembly Transport Committee chair Caroline Russell criticised the arrangement, telling MyLondon’s *Inside City Hall* podcast that the government has “stepped in on London’s devolved powers”. She said TfL should have a licensing role in regulating the vehicles, including access to company data and operational rules. “There’s all sorts of issues London’s got to get on top of before anything gets unleashed on our streets,” she said.
What happens next
Wayve and Uber must apply to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency for permission to operate the vehicles without a driver. The Automated Vehicles Act 2024, which came into force last year, places legal responsibility for accidents on the operator rather than the driver. The Act will be fully implemented in the second half of 2027.
TfL is currently in talks with potential operators and plans to publish guidance shortly. A spokesperson said safety remains its top priority, and any new passenger service must align with the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, including congestion management. The body also warned that companies could bypass TfL by applying for licences for non-passenger services, such as food delivery.
Questions this report answers
+Will the robotaxis operate without a driver?
No. Under the current private hire licence terms, a qualified driver must remain in the vehicle at all times. Full driverless operation requires separate approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which has not yet been granted.
+How can Barnet residents try the robotaxis?
Uber will contact some of the 100,000 Londoners who signed up to its interest list. The company has not specified how many Barnet residents will be invited or which neighbourhoods will be included. Test rides are expected to begin this summer.
+Who regulates the robotaxis in Barnet?
The Department for Transport authorises self-driving trials on public roads, while Transport for London oversees commercial passenger services. Barnet Council has no formal role in regulating the trials and was not consulted on the roll-out.
+What happens if there’s an accident?
Under the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, legal responsibility for accidents involving autonomous vehicles lies with the approved operator, not the driver. The Act will be fully implemented in the second half of 2027.
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