Nigeria: Uber Unveils Robotaxi in London Less Than 24 Hours After Exiting Nigeria

What the report says

Uber has launched an autonomous ride service in London in partnership with British artificial intelligence company Wayve, according to Daily Trust’s report distributed by AllAfrica. The rollout was presented as a new phase in Uber’s robotaxi plans and came shortly after the company ended its ride-hailing operations in Nigeria, where it had been active for more than 12 years.

The report says London is now Uber’s second European city with autonomous rides, following an earlier launch in Zagreb. At the start, fewer than 20 Wayve-powered Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles will be available. Riders who request UberX, Uber Comfort or Uber Electric may be matched with one of the autonomous vehicles without paying extra. A licensed operator will remain in the car initially while the service is monitored.

Uber said the launch is meant to help build confidence among the public and regulators. Wayve said its AI driving system is designed to adapt to different roads and conditions, and described London as a challenging but fitting place for a first public rollout. British transport officials also welcomed the move as a notable step for the city’s transport sector.

The report notes that fully driverless service is not yet allowed because regulatory approval is still needed, including processes involving Transport for London. The development underscores Uber’s wider push into autonomous mobility as it seeks to expand beyond traditional ride-hailing.