Concerns grow over London robotaxis expansion to Manchester

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 16 Oct, 17:08 · Archive

Opposition to Uber's autonomous vehicle trial in London is mounting, with new survey data showing most Londoners do not support the service.

Uber's autonomous vehicle trial in London has sparked growing opposition as the company expands the service to Manchester. More than 100,000 people are on Uber's London waitlist after the first UK services started in September, but the expansion faces significant resistance from drivers and politicians.

A London Assembly transport committee survey of 1,053 Londoners found 42 per cent opposed the robotaxis, with only 29 per cent saying they would use them. The committee, chaired by Caroline Russell, raised concerns about the impact on the crowded capital's streets, vehicle hesitation at junctions, and empty miles when cars travel without passengers. The report called for Transport for London to be given full powers to permit or suspend operations and to monitor and publish data on empty journeys.

Uber drivers are planning to protest this weekend at the headquarters of Wayve, which supplies the autonomous cabs. Florentina Ghiuzan, an Uber driver from Essex, said she was shocked at the speed of approval and that change should have come 'with a solution for us'. Uber has announced plans to deploy 100,000 Nvidia robotaxis worldwide starting next year, with executives discussing all new cars being autonomous by 2040. In San Francisco, Waymo's fully autonomous cars already operate more than a quarter of all rides.

How it is being reported

• Blow to driverless taxis as fewer than a third of Londoners want them on the roadAs Uber begins a trial of autonomous vehicles on the streets of Manchester, nearly half of Londoners don't want the self-driving cars operating, a new survey revealedThe Mirror · 16 Oct, 16:49
• ‘We should all be worried’: calls grow to limit London rollout of robotaxisProtest planned at Wayve HQ as Uber drivers fear for their future and city’s politicians demand TfL should have power over licences For passengers in Britain who want to try the latest ride, robotaxis are eagerly awaited: more than 100,000 are on Uber’s waitlist in London after the first UK services started in September. Others view them with trepidation. “I think we should all be worried,” said Florentina Ghiuzan, an Uber driver from Essex. “I was shocked TfL approved it so soon . I knew change would come. But I thought it would come with a solution for us.” Continue reading...The Guardian · 16 Oct, 12:00

In this story: Uber · Wayve · Transport for London · London · Manchester · Florentina Ghiuzan · Caroline Russell

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