Uber has opened an interest list within its UK app, allowing London riders to opt in for autonomous vehicle rides powered by Wayve, the British self-driving startup. The feature went live on June 8, 2026, signaling that commercial robotaxi service in London is imminent, pending regulatory approval.
Wayve closed a $1.5 billion Series D round in February 2026, pushing its valuation to $8.6 billion. Uber was a repeat investor, having first formalized a partnership targeting Level 4 autonomy trials in the UK in June 2025. Uber has committed an additional $300 million in funding contingent on deployment milestones in London.
Waymo, Alphabet's autonomous driving subsidiary, is also preparing to launch in London, creating direct competition. Uber's strategy involves integrating Wayve's vehicles directly into the Uber app, eliminating the need for a separate platform.
Uber and Wayve plan to expand robotaxi services to over 10 cities worldwide, with Tokyo as a next target, partnering with Nissan for a late 2026 pilot.
Wayve's $8.6 billion valuation makes it one of Europe's most valuable private AI companies. Investors should monitor UK transport regulators in the second half of 2026 as the interest list converts into actual rides or faces regulatory delays.