London Drivers Protest Robotaxi Rollout Amid Public Opposition

Private hire drivers organized by the App Drivers and Couriers Union protested outside Wayve headquarters in King's Cross on Saturday, warning that robotaxis threaten their livelihoods. The demonstration follows the launch of a driverless car trial last month, with a full commercial rollout projected for 2027 pending regulatory approval.

The London Assembly transport committee recently issued a report citing a YouGov survey where 42 percent of 1,053 respondents opposed driverless taxis and only 29 percent said they would use one. The committee expressed concerns that autonomous vehicles could increase congestion and cause traffic delays due to vehicle hesitation at junctions. Consequently, the committee has urged the government to allow Transport for London to cap the number of autonomous vehicles deployed and monitor empty miles.

While Uber reports that over 140,000 Londoners have opted in to use the service, the vehicles currently require a human safety operator. Uber, Wayve, and Waymo maintain the technology improves road safety, but Steve McNamara of the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association dismissed the service as a gimmick. The autonomous hailing service is also expanding to Manchester, making it the second UK city to offer the technology.