Nearly 40,000 jobs could be created and billions added to the economy through self-driving vehicles, according to the UK Government, as it fast-tracks pilot schemes.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has fast-tracked commercial pilots of such vehicles with plans to bring them to the roads from spring 2026.
Firms will be able to pilot small scale “taxi- and bus-like” services without a safety driver for the first time – which could be available to members of the public to book via an app.
A potential wider rollout could occur when the full Automated Vehicles (AV) Act becomes law from the second half of 2027.
Innovation, “world-leading regulation” and road safety will be at the forefront of the pilots, with self-driving vehicles aiming to reduce human error – which contributes to 88% of all road collisions – the government said.
The UK Government also claimed it could creating an industry worth £42bn by 2035.
The Automated Vehicles Act will require self-driving vehicles to achieve a level of safety at least as high as competent and careful human drivers, and they will undergo rigorous safety tests.
Self-driving trials have already been taking place in the UK since January 2015, with British companies Wayve and Oxa spearheading pilots.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:
“The future of transport is arriving. Self-driving cars could bring jobs, investment, and the opportunity for the UK to be among the world-leaders in new technology.
“With road safety at the heart of our pilots and legislation, we continue to take bold steps to create jobs, back British industry, and drive innovation to deliver our Plan for Change.”
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:
“We can’t afford to take a back seat on AI, unless it’s on a self-driving bus. It’s great to see the UK storming ahead as a global leader in using this technology – making our roads safer, travel easier and driving growth by spurring innovation across the country.
“That’s why we’re bringing timelines forward today, placing the UK firmly in the fast lane and creating opportunity along the way so people across the country benefit.”
Alex Kendall, Co-Founder and CEO, Wayve says:
“Accelerating commercial self-driving pilots to 2026 positions the UK as a leading destination for the deployment of L4 self-driving technology. These early pilots will help build public trust and unlock new jobs, services, and markets. For Wayve, this means we can prioritise the UK for early deployment and help deliver safer, cleaner mobility to the UK. We’re excited to bring the benefits of L4 autonomous mobility to cities around the UK.”
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said:
“Pilot rollout of commercial self-driving services from next year will widen public access to mobility, while the consultation will ensure the technology is deployed in a safe and responsible way. These latest measures will help Britain remain a world leader in the development and introduction of self-driving vehicles, a manifest application of AI at its finest.”
Gavin Jackson, Oxa’s CEO, said:
“Since 2024, Oxa has advocated for an expedited regulatory regime. Clear rules will open up the market and encourage transport companies to introduce the benefits of autonomous vehicles across the country. Today’s announcement shows that Britain is ready for this technology.”
Sarfraz Maredia, Head of Autonomous Mobility & Delivery at Uber, said:
“Uber already enables tens of thousands of driverless trips each month worldwide through partnerships with leading AV developers.
“Having recently appointed a dedicated leader for our UK autonomous efforts, we look forward to working with regulators and partners to deploy this technology safely in Britain.”
Michelle Peacock, Head of Global Public Policy at Waymo said:
“The United Kingdom has long been home to our first European engineering team dedicated to the development of our AI-powered Waymo Driver. We’re delighted to see the Government lay the groundwork for new investment possibilities in the years ahead.:
Julian David OBE, CEO, techUK, said:
“Safety must be front and centre of any new regulatory regime. The call for evidence on the Statement of Safety Principles enables a healthy discourse on what outcomes the public should expect from self-driving vehicles.
“The public must also be able to understand when their vehicle really is capable of driving autonomously to prevent accidental misuse. This is why the techUK members also strongly supports the draft Statutory Instrument on protecting marketing terms.”
Image from Shutterstock
