Uber has launched supervised autonomous rides in London, marking the first time passengers in the UK can request an autonomous trip through a major ride-hailing platform. The new service is powered by British autonomous driving company Wayve and uses all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles equipped with the company’s Wayve AI Driver technology. The initial rollout is limited to a small fleet, with expansion planned as demand, technology readiness and regulations develop. For now, the vehicles still have a trained, TfL-licensed private hire driver behind the wheel to monitor the autonomous system and take control when necessary. How Uber’s autonomous rides work London passengers requesting an UberX, Uber Electric or Uber Comfort ride may be matched with a Wayve-powered autonomous Mustang Mach-E at no additional cost. The vehicle is not guaranteed to be autonomous, however, and riders can choose to switch to a conventional ride before the vehicle arrives. Uber customers who want to increase their chances of getting an autonomous vehicle can opt in through the Trip Preferences section of the Uber app. More than 140,000 London users had already opted in ahead of the launch. Once a Wayve-equipped Mustang Mach-E arrives, passengers can use the Uber app to unlock the doors and start their journey. The autonomous vehicles can operate throughout London, with airports excluded from the initial service area. An interactive screen inside the Mustang Mach-E provides information about the journey, including the vehicle’s planned route. The system supports 64 languages, giving passengers additional information about what the vehicle is doing during the trip. Ford Mustang Mach-E becomes London’s autonomous taxi The electric Ford Mustang Mach-E serves as the platform for Wayve’s first public autonomous ride service in the UK. Wayve has fitted the vehicles with its autonomous driving hardware and software, including a surround-sensor system and radar.