Fleet Services Manager - AV

Uber launches first robotaxi rides with passengers in London. Uber and British startup Wayve are bringing 15 self-driving cars to London streets, offering passengers the chance to choose a robotaxi over a standard vehicle for the first time. To ensure safety, a safety operator will still be present behind the wheel of each vehicle. Collaboration between Uber and British startup Wayve 15 self-driving cars used in the first phase A safety operator is present in each vehicle for safety There are over 120,000 taxi drivers in London American ride-sharing company Uber, in collaboration with British technology firm Wayve, is launching a pilot project in London that will transport passengers in self-driving cars. In the first phase of the trial period, 15 robotaxis will be used, and they will become available to users as early as this week. When a user orders a ride via the Uber app and a self-driving vehicle happens to be available in the area, the system will make the corresponding offer to the customer. The passenger has the option to decide whether they want to ride in a robotaxi or prefer a standard car driven by a human. Although this is autonomous technology, a safety operator will still be present in all vehicles initially, ready to take control at any moment if the situation requires it. The future of technology in London. Wayve CEO Alex Kendall did not wish to predict an exact timeline for when British authorities might grant permission for wider adoption of the technology. Industry analysts do not expect a significant breakthrough before 2027 or 2028. There is also a degree of political uncertainty regarding the future of the sector on London streets. The UK's new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has not yet publicly confirmed his stance on autonomous taxis. Under the leadership of his predecessor, Keir Starmer, the government was generally supportive of the technology's development. Competition and regulations. The London market is attractive to developers of self-driving cars because it is one of the world's largest taxi service markets, with over 120,000 drivers. In addition to Uber and Wayve, other tech giants are testing similar solutions, including Waymo and Baidu in partnership with Freenow, but they are still conducting tests without passengers. Local regulators remain cautious about self-driving cars. In addition to strict safety requirements, a concern is the socio-economic impact, as wider adoption of the technology could lead to a massive reduction in jobs within the taxi sector. Technology What to know Cambridge researchers map fruit fly brain and reveal connections driving behavior. * Cambridge researchers mapped 124 million neural connections. * The brain architecture of male and female flies differs by 5%. * The study was published in the scientific journal Cell. 50 min ago Technology What to know Google unveiled AI-based weather forecasting model WeatherNext 3 in Mountain View. * WeatherNext 3 is Google's newest AI weather forecasting model * The model offers forecasts with a 5 km resolution * Rainfall prediction accuracy improved by 60 percent * The model will be integrated into Google Search, Maps, and Gemini Technology Nvidia to acquire artificial intelligence platform Hugging Face for $12.9 billion. Chipmaker Nvidia has announced the acquisition of AI model sharing platform Hugging Face for $12.93 billion. The company promises to maintain the platform's openness for developers while providing greater computing power. Technology Amazon subsidiary Zoox expands robotaxi service to Las Vegas airport. Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle developer Zoox will begin offering robotaxi service between Harry Reid International Airport and downtown Las Vegas. The service, which allows for pick-up and drop-off directly at the baggage claim area, now competes directly with conventional rideshare apps.

Freenow is acquiring two Irish taxi dispatchers, Dublin-based Lynk and Limerick's Swift, to expand its B2B operations. Lynk has operated for over a decade, while Swift has served Limerick and surrounding areas for 35 years. Danny O'Gorman, Freenow's general manager for Ireland, said the acquisitions will extend the company's reach beyond app-based services. The move targets traditional taxi dispatch markets that complement Freenow's existing digital platform. The acquisitions strengthen Freenow's presence in Ireland's taxi market, combining modern app technology with established regional dispatch services.

Freenow and Apollo Go launch London robotaxi trial. Freenow by Lyft and Baidu's autonomous driving unit Apollo Go have launched road tests of robotaxis in London. The trials mark the first concrete step in implementing the commercial robotaxi partnership the two companies announced for Europe in 2025. By Florian Treiss 29.07.2026 - 15:48 The first road tests will take place in the London borough of Brent, where Apollo Go will deploy its sixth-generation RT6 robotaxis. The vehicles will initially operate on urban and suburban routes with safety drivers on board, paving the way for a planned commercial passenger service from 2027, subject to regulatory approval. The initiative stems from a strategic partnership agreed last year to integrate Apollo Go's autonomous driving technology into Freenow by Lyft's platform across key European markets. While Apollo Go provides the technological foundation and the RT6 vehicles - specifically designed for ride-hailing - Freenow contributes its local market expertise and operational capabilities. The project in the British capital benefits directly from recent test successes in Hong Kong, where Apollo Go received the first driverless test permit for right-hand-drive markets in July 2026. "The arrival of Apollo Go vehicles in London marks a defining milestone in our global expansion," said Nan Yang, Vice President of Baidu and General Manager of Overseas Business Unit, Intelligent Driving Group. "Testing our autonomous fleet in one of the world's most iconic and complex urban environments validates our technology's maturity and our commitment to this market." According to Baidu, the partnership combines AI-powered autonomous driving with local platform expertise to support the rollout. In the UK, Apollo Go's autonomous vehicles are set to operate alongside conventional taxis and private hire vehicles within the Freenow platform. The partners say this hybrid approach is intended to reduce waiting times and improve efficiency. According to a Censuswide survey commissioned by the companies, 58% of Londoners would be willing to try a robotaxi, rising to almost two-thirds among respondents under the age of 35. Thomas Zimmermann, CEO of Freenow by Lyft, emphasised the integration into the existing industry: "As a platform with deep roots in the taxi industry, our priority is ensuring that autonomous technology supports the professional drivers who keep London moving. By integrating these purpose-built, autonomous vehicles from Baidu's Apollo Go into the Freenow by Lyft ecosystem, we will give Londoners more sustainable choices to travel." The goal is to accelerate the shift towards shared mobility solutions. Competitors poised to enter the market. In addition to Freenow by Lyft, several other companies have announced plans to launch robotaxi services in London and the UK in recent months, including Waymo, Uber, and Wayve. The UK has now established the legal framework, allowing operators to apply for the necessary operating licences since May. Earlier this year, Freenow by Lyft announced plans to launch robotaxis in the German city of Hamburg, although it did not identify Apollo Go as its partner at the time. The company also stressed that autonomous vehicles would operate alongside conventional taxis. 0 comments. about "Freenow and Apollo Go launch London robotaxi trial"