Uber and Wayve say Wayve received London private hire vehicle licenses for supervised robotaxis ahead of a full rollout; Waymo plans to offer robotaxis in 2026 (Natalie Lung/Bloomberg)

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- Wayve received London private hire vehicle licenses for supervised robotaxi operations, a required step before Uber and Wayve can roll out their planned service commercially.
- Waymo plans to offer robotaxis in 2026, setting a competitive timeline as multiple autonomous ride-hailing players move toward deployment.
Why it matters: London's private hire licensing framework is one of the most restrictive in the world, so Wayve clearing that hurdle signals real regulatory progress for robotaxi ambitions in a tightly regulated market, while Waymo's 2026 target keeps competitive pressure on the timeline.




