Transport Insights

For those who thought that truly autonomous robotaxis in London were imminent, today’s news that they could still be a way off may be a bit of a shock.

Earlier this month, it was announced that Transport for London had granted Uber and Wayve (operating together) a licence to offer self-driving taxi rides to paying customers, except that the stipulation was that a safety driver had to be behind the wheel at all times.

Presumably to take the blame when the technology fails.

Now the FT reports:

London’s robotaxi rollout is running behind the ambitious schedule set out by the UK government, with the three main operators now unlikely to launch a fully driverless commercial service this year.

Alphabet’s Waymo, Uber-backed Wayve and China’s Baidu still face regulatory or technical barriers, or both, before they can take paid passengers without a “safety driver” behind the wheel.

Unsure whether to frame the news as a consumer story or a business one, the FT says:

Any delay in London will come as a relief to cab drivers worried about potential job losses, but it could dismay the 100,000 people who have signed up to try Uber and Wayve’s service.

Ministers, investors and tech executives had also hoped that the launch of robotaxis could help to position the UK as an innovation hub.

I wonder if “dismay” may be little bit strong here.

The substantive issue is that:

Transport for London, the city authority which must give its consent to any rollout, is yet to even publish the guidance that companies must follow to win its approval.

Jack Stilgoe, “tech professor” at University College London, notes that, as well as doubts as to whether Burnham is as enthusiastic as, for example, transport secretary Heidi Alexander,

TfL are still asking what problems this would actually solve.

And, beyond all the hype, it’s very much the question that we should all be asking.