Passengers across Great Britain could be booking taxi and bus-style self-driving vehicles later this year as applications officially open today (22 May 2026) for operators to run autonomous cars.

The new government pilot scheme marks a major milestone toward fully commercial passenger services, allowing prominent technology and transport firms - including Wayve, Uber, and Waymo - to test bookable driverless journeys.

Proponents argue the cutting-edge technology will transform the British economy and society. Ministers project the autonomous vehicle sector could create thousands of high-skilled jobs and unlock billions of pounds by 2035, while Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Chief Executive Mike Hawes noted automated services alone could be worth £3.7 billion a year by 2040.

Beyond financial growth, the services aim to dramatically improve transport accessibility and freedom for older adults and disabled passengers.

Safety remains the central focus of the initiative, particularly as government data shows human error currently contributes to 88% of collisions on UK roads.

The pilots will gather vital real-world evidence on how these vehicles navigate everyday traffic, busy urban streets, and passenger safety.

Before hitting the roads, operators must pass rigorous government approval processes, including strict safety and cyber security threat assessments.

Additionally, local transport authorities, such as Transport for London (TfL), must grant local consent to ensure services align with regional priorities.

The initiative follows a government Call for Evidence on autonomous regulations that closed in March. Learnings from these upcoming pilots will directly shape the final rules for wider, permanent deployment.

London is poised to be at the forefront of this transport revolution. Sarfraz Maredia, Global Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber, expressed excitement for the launch, stating: "London has long been a pioneering city for Uber, where we’ve launched some of our biggest innovations, and we can’t wait to give people in the capital the chance to experience autonomous rides this year."

Ben Loewenstein, Waymo’s Head of Policy and Government Affairs for the UK and Europe, praised the initiative, saying: "The UK is leading the way in enabling the safe deployment of pilot autonomous vehicle services."

He added that Waymo, which already provides over 500,000 weekly rides across 11 US metropolitan areas, hopes to soon join London’s network to "demonstrate the safety, accessibility, sustainability benefits of battery-electric autonomous vehicles."

Ultimately, the government views the pilot as a safe stepping stone toward a radically different transport landscape.

Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood said: “Self-driving vehicles represent a transformative opportunity for Britain, opening up independent travel for disabled people and older adults, whilst driving growth and creating high-skilled jobs across the UK.

"This pilot scheme brings that future closer, giving passengers the opportunity to experience self-driving travel first-hand while ensuring safety always comes first.”

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