London Uber drivers protest against Wayve robotaxi trials
Uber drivers and labor union representatives staged a protest outside Wayve headquarters in north London on Saturday, demanding an immediate halt to the capital’s newly launched autonomous vehicle trials. The demonstration highlights mounting economic anxiety over job displacement and competition from self-driving fleets introduced last month in partnership with technology firm Wayve.
Drivers Demand Compensation over Autonomous Vehicle Threats
Around 20 demonstrators gathered near the facility on Saturday, ITV News reported. The App Drivers’ and Couriers’ Union (ADCU) organized the action, arguing that human drivers are treated as disposable collateral damage and demanding compensation. Fifty-year-old Abdurzak Hadi, an Uber driver in London for more than 12 years, told the Press Association that he feels like an old car that is no longer needed.
I feel like I’ve been treated like an old car that’s not needed any more, that’s exactly how I feel, like: ‘We can get rid of you now, we’re going to get a brand new car that’s going to do something different.’ And I’m not a car, I’m a human being.
Hadi added that competing against a machine capable of operating 24 hours a day presents an unsustainable challenge for human operators. Another driver, Florentina Ghiuzan from Essex, told the Press Association that she was shocked Transport for London (TfL) approved the rollout so quickly without immediate solutions for displaced workers. Protesters called on London Mayor Lord Sadiq Khan to clarify his stance and intervene against the expansion.
Transport Committee Urges Caps on Driverless Vehicles
The street-level protests mirror growing political friction inside the capital. The London Assembly Transport Committee recently urged the government to grant TfL statutory authority to cap the number of autonomous passenger vehicles deployed across London streets. Committee chair Caroline Russell stated in a report covered by The Guardian that the panel remains unconvinced the city should welcome driverless services without addressing core transport problems.
Green Party councillor Amandine Alexandre criticized Mayor Khan during the Saturday demonstration, telling PA that he has not come out firmly against robotaxis despite opposing other major infrastructure expansions. TfL granted minicab licenses for the autonomous vehicles in August, though every deployed vehicle currently retains a human safety driver in the front seat capable of taking control.
Londoners Opt in to Test Self-Driving Vehicles
Despite opposition, commercial interest remains high. More than 140,000 Londoners have opted in to test self-driving vehicles through the Uber application, according to company figures reported by ITV News. Wayve defended the partnership, stating that automated passenger services can improve road safety, expand connectivity, and provide alternative travel methods when introduced responsibly.
TfL maintains that safety remains its primary priority, emphasizing that any automated passenger service must operate exclusively with its explicit consent.