Key Takeaways Uber on Tuesday said its partnership with self-driving software startup Wayve is moving forward, with pilot programs planned for the streets of London.The companies partnered last August,

Uber and one of the ridehail company’s many robotaxi partners, Wayve, announced today that they will begin testing Level 4 autonomous vehicles in London on public roads as soon as 2026. The timing coincides with the UK Secretary of State for Transport’s announcement of “an accelerated framework for self-driving commercial pilots,

London’s famed black cabs will be joined by autonomous taxis early next year when Uber Technologies Inc. links up with British artificial intelligence firm Wayve Technologies Ltd. in Uber’s first pilot scheme for robotaxis.

Uber Technologies Inc. and self-driving technology firm Wayve Technologies Ltd. plan to run their first trial of fully autonomous vehicles in London, paving the way for the two companies to launch commercial robotaxi services in the UK and beyond.

Uber is to begin trials of driverless taxis in London next year, ahead of the Tesla Cybercab, which is touted to make its debut in the US “before 2027”.

London is set to start experimenting with driverless cars just as Google's WAYMO is experience harsh blow back in the U.S..