You could book a self-driving taxi from 2026
11 June 2025
Image: Shutterstock
People will be able to book self-driving taxis for the first time under new government plans to fast-track autonomous vehicles.
Nearly 40,000 jobs could be created, roads could be safer, and billions could be added to the economy as self-driving vehicle pilots are set to start in England from spring 2026.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has confirmed that the Government will fast-track pilots to spring 2026, introducing self-driving commercial pilots on England’s roads.
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 – before a potential wider rollout when the full Automated Vehicles 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 percent of all road collisions.
Bringing forward the pilots of self-driving vehicles will help to create 38,000 jobs, driving investment and creating an industry worth £42 billion by 2035.
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.”
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 before being allowed on our roads.
By having faster reaction times than humans, and by being trained on large numbers of driving scenarios, including learning from real-world incidents, self-driving vehicles can help reduce deaths and injuries. Unlike human drivers, AVs can never get distracted or tired and they won’t drink-drive or speed.
Self-driving vehicles could also improve transport for millions of people – providing greater choice and flexibility to get around more easily.
They also have the potential to add new public transport options in rural areas to boost connectivity for local communities, and improve mobility, accessibility and independence for those unable to drive.
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 [and] 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.”
Self-driving trials have already been taking place in the UK since January 2015, with British companies Wayve and Oxa spearheading significant breakthroughs in the technology.
From spring 2026, self-driving cars without a safety driver could be available for people to book via an app for the first time.
The UK is already host to a thriving self-driving sector. Wayve secured a record-breaking investment of over $1 billion and announced recent partnerships with Nissan and Uber, while Oxa has already supported ‘bus-like’ services in the US and started rolling out self-driving vehicles at Heathrow Airport to improve baggage handling.
Launched during London Tech Week, the commitments are a cornerstone of the department’s new Transport AI action plan, which sets out how the Government plans to use AI to drive economic growth, reduce traffic congestion, and improve transport for everyone in the UK.
Julian David OBE, CEO, techUK, said: “Today’s announcement is great news for the UK’s AV and tech sectors. 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.
“The UK must also make sure it doesn’t fall behind other countries despite the promising progress made in 2024 to create new, bespoke legislation for AVs.
“The ability to deploy truly driverless passenger services from 2026 is a major milestone towards bringing the benefits of autonomy to communities across the country.”