Khan Demands Limits on London Robotaxis Before Full Driverless Rollout
The mayor argues current rules are insufficient for a city of 10 million people as Chinese and American firms prepare to launch services.
By Aiko Soto ·
Sadiq Khan has called for a strict limit on the number of robotaxis allowed to operate on London streets. He issued the warning as the UK government prepares to permit fully driverless vehicles in the capital.
Khan stated that politicians have failed to understand the speed of technological change. He argued that the new vehicles could threaten existing jobs and worsen traffic congestion. He questioned whether current regulations for autonomous cars are suitable for the task.
These comments follow the recent unveiling of Chinese robotaxis by Freenow by Lyft, a competitor to Uber. Uber began offering limited passenger rides in Wayve self-driving cars in September. Those vehicles still have a safety driver in the front seat and operate under a license from Transport for London.
Freenow by Lyft aims to launch fully driverless Baidu robotaxis as early as next year. The company plans to do so under a national licensing scheme. Khan noted that major firms, including Waymo which operates in San Francisco, are focusing heavily on London.
"What we don't want is a situation where there's a big bang without proper regulation in place," Khan said. He emphasized the need for fit-for-purpose rules before a mass rollout of automated vehicles occurs.
Khan added that the pace of innovation has not been fully grasped by policymakers. He advocated for incremental movement rather than sudden expansion. The mayor is lobbying the government to grant TfL more power to manage automated vehicles.
Unanswered questions remain regarding the impact on air quality, congestion, and livelihoods for private hire and black cab drivers. Drivers' unions have recently protested at the London headquarters of Wayve and Waymo.
Currently, TfL can only grant or refuse consent for autonomous vehicle use in London. It does not manage or license the services themselves. This leaves the city's authorities with less control than ministers who want to accelerate adoption.
Danny O'Gorman, UK and Ireland general manager for Freenow by Lyft, said the national framework was important for investment. He noted that regulation once the service is running still needs to be settled. About 24 Baidu Apollo Go vehicles are being tested in the London borough of Brent.
O'Gorman said the company is working closely with TfL to get things right. He acknowledged that many test trips still require human intervention, particularly during roadworks. He noted that autonomous vehicles often get beeped at by other drivers for following speed limits in a city where rules are frequently ignored.
Freenow by Lyft promises to build a purpose-built AV depot in the UK. O'Gorman said displaced taxi drivers could find work in remote operating and servicing roles there. He argued that the black cab industry faces greater risks from an aging driver population and high vehicle costs than from immediate competition with robotaxis.
