Image: Uber
Uber launched a robotaxi service in London, beating Waymo to become the first to offer paid trips in autonomous vehicles in the city. The vehicles use autonomous driving tech developed by Wayve, a UK-based startup, and will initially feature safety drivers behind the wheel.
The launch is a milestone for Uber, which has been plotting a UK launch with Wayve for several years. In beating Waymo to the punch, it allows Uber to set the standard for the robotaxi experience for thousands of Londoners. It's also an early test of whether there's appetite for driverless ridehailing beyond the US and China, where most of the world's robotaxis are curre …