Uber's AV Ambitions in London Receive a Boost: Here's How Uber Technologies UBER and Wayve have moved closer to introducing autonomous rides in London after Transport for London (TfL) awarded Private Hire Vehicle licenses to several of Wayve’s self-driving, all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles. Equipped with the Wayve AI Driver as well as surrounding cameras and radar, the vehicles underwent inspections to verify compliance with TfL’s safety and policy requirements. The approvals satisfy the vehicle component of the “triple-lock” requirement for Private Hire journeys, under which the operator, driver and vehicle must be licensed by the same authority. The rides will operate in accordance with the U.K. Government’s AV Trialing Code of Practice and Uber’s TfL Private Hire Operator license. Although Wayve’s technology will handle the driving, a trained, TfL-licensed private hire driver will remain onboard to supervise each journey, provide assistance and assume control when necessary. Interest among London residents has been significant, with more than 100,000 people joining Uber’s Interest List over the past eight weeks for an opportunity to be matched with a Wayve autonomous ride when the service launches. Later this summer, selected participants will be offered rides and asked to provide feedback, helping the companies refine the experience ahead of a broader public rollout. Wayve views the license as an important step toward allowing Londoners to experience autonomous driving while supporting the longer-term potential for safer, cleaner and quieter streets. Uber similarly considers the approval a key milestone in introducing autonomous rides in the capital, with the strong response to its Interest List demonstrating considerable public interest in Wayve’s U.K.-developed technology. Wayve’s AI-first AV2.0 system differs from conventional autonomous-driving technologies that depend on high-definition maps, predefined rules or tightly geofenced operating areas. The AI Driver instead learns from experience, allowing it to adjust to different