The UK will get its first robotaxis next year

Robotaxis are coming to the UK next year thanks to a partnership between Uber and Wayve, a British company focused on AI for autonomous vehicles. A pilot program is set to take place in Spring 2026 and follows last year's passage of the Automated Vehicles Act, which set the stage for self-driving cars to be deployed across the country. 

"This is a defining moment for UK autonomy," said Alex Kendall, CEO and co-founder of Wayve, in a statement. "Our Embodied AI learns to drive anywhere, in any vehicle, and this trial brings us closer to bringing safe and intelligent driving to everyday rides across the UK and beyond."

According to Heidi Alexander, the UK's secretary of state for transport, the agreement will add £42 billion ($56.7 billion) for the economy and create 38,000 jobs. Alexander doesn't state how exactly the latter will occur as a result of driverless taxis.