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London debuts first Uber-hailed autonomous taxis featuring wayve technology. 03/09/2026 2 min. read Autonomous vehicle technology has made its public debut on London's roads through a partnership between Uber and British technology company Wayve. From Thursday, Uber users can book rides in self-driving vehicles across the capital, marking a significant step in the companies' efforts to advance autonomous transport in Europe. The initial rollout involves 15 licensed Ford Mustang vehicles fitted with Wayve's artificial intelligence system. Transport for London has approved the vehicles under private hire vehicle regulations, which require a licensed safety driver to remain behind the wheel, monitor the vehicle and take manual control when necessary. The companies must secure separate approval from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency before they can operate the vehicles without human safety drivers. Industry observers do not expect the approval to come this year.Although the initial fleet is small compared with the more than 100,000 private hire vehicles operating in London, demand could be strong. A safety driver will remain inside the vehicle and follow a standard script informing passengers that they will not speak during the journey unless they need to take control of the steering or braking systems. Wayve has taken a different approach from competitors such as Google-backed Waymo and China's Baidu. Rather than relying on detailed pre-mapped environments, the British company uses end-to-end artificial intelligence models to enable its vehicles to learn and respond to their surroundings. Recent tests in central London demonstrated the system's ability to handle complex urban situations, including adjusting its driving in real time to avoid blocking access points while parking. Wayve plans to expand the service by integrating its AI software into newly manufactured Nissan Leaf electric vehicles. The company said it would introduce fully driverless operations once vehicle safety testing, manufacturing and regulatory approvals are in place, although it has not set a firm timeline. The launch places London alongside cities in the United States, China and the United Arab Emirates where autonomous vehicles already operate. It also follows Uber's driver-supervised autonomous vehicle rollout in Zagreb, Croatia. Government officials welcomed the initiative as a milestone for Britain's technology sector and wider economic growth, describing London's complex traffic environment as an important testing ground for autonomous driving technology. Uber executives said autonomous vehicles could make transport safer and more affordable in the long term. However, the company stressed that human drivers would remain an important part of its platform as demand for its services grows. Labour representatives have raised concerns about the potential impact of autonomous vehicles on employment, warning that large-scale adoption could cause significant social and economic disruption for hundreds of thousands of people working in the driving sector. Friday Omosola is a News Editor at NRTC who's passionate about investigating and reporting under-reported social and political issues in Africa.

Nissan partners with Be Pro Be Proud to bring skilled trade career simulations to Tennessee students. The initiative visits middle and high schools across Tennessee, giving students hands-on experience with welding, truck driving, heavy equipment and more. Nissan teams up with Be Pro Be Proud to give Tennessee students hands-on experience with skilled trade careers through immersive simulators. Posted 6:44 AM, Sep 02, 2026 LAVERGNE, Tenn. (WTVF) - Nissan is partnering with Be Pro Be Proud to introduce Tennessee middle and high school students to high-demand, high-paying manufacturing careers through hands-on simulations. Be Pro Be Proud is visiting schools across the state, giving students the chance to try simulators for jobs like welding, truck driving and heavy equipment operation - with the goal of helping them explore potential career paths. Jason Stanley, senior manager of manufacturer workforce development for Nissan US, said skilled trades are at the heart of what the industry needs. "Skill trades is a backbone for the industry. So our opportunity to support initiatives like Be Pro, Be Proud gives us an opportunity to grow future talents, to give the students that exposure and opportunity to see a career field they may not even have thought of," Stanley said. He said the need for workers is urgent and widespread across Tennessee's manufacturing sector. "Ours specifically in advanced manufacturing and production technicians. They're highly skilled positions, and we have a high demand and every manufacturer in the state is looking for that same skill set. So as we grow as a state and as our economy continues to expand, we obviously have to have a huge influx of new talent and emerging talent," Stanley said. Stanley said the timing of the initiative is critical - not just for Nissan, but for the state as a whole. "We've seen a much increased need, especially as more manufacturers have moved into the area and more industries have moved into the area, which drives up additional demand," Stanley said. At LaVergne High School, junior Tiana Thomas was among the students who tried the simulators. "I went on the bulldozer, I knocked down trees and then I pushed them to clean them up, I guess," Thomas said. She said the experience opened her and her classmates up to new career options. "With all the stuff in here, I feel like it'll help them figure it out and like actually get a deeper intake on it," Thomas said. One of the most popular stops was the truck driving simulator. Senior Leonardo Mejia said the experience left a real impression. "It makes me want to try to pursue getting one, a CDL license," Mejia said. Senior Tally Barber got trained on how the machines work so she could guide her peers through the simulations. She said the hands-on approach changes how students think about these careers. "I don't think people ever think like, oh, I wanna be a bulldozer operator when I grow up. And they don't ever like think of what the job entails," Barber said. "These simulations get to like actually show them what it's about and not just be like, oh, this is just a job that exists," Barber said. LaVergne High School Principal Theowauna Hatchett said connecting students with careers they are excited about has a lasting impact. "I think just being able to connect them with things that they are interested in, that they can be excited about, and I think it helps motivate them as they are preparing to finish high school, that they have a plan and a goal for when they leave high school," Hatchett said. The Be Pro Be Proud mobile truck will continue traveling across Tennessee, heading to additional stops planned throughout the year. Are you or someone you know considering a career in the skilled trades? The demand for manufacturing workers in Tennessee is growing - and programs like this one could be the first step. Watch the full story above to see what these simulations look like in action, and share your thoughts with Eric Pointer directly at [email protected]. This story was reported by Eric Pointer and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Eric Pointer and our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. Dolly Parton's fingerprints are all over Tennessee. And how cool it is to see and hear how MTSU is working to preserve her legacy in music and beyond. Aaron Cantrell brings us a snapshot of the university's expansive Dolly collection, including her first ever recorded interview. Check it out for yourself! - Carrie Sharp