Uber said on 14 October that it is partnering with Verne and Pony.ai to pilot autonomous vehicles in Manchester, and that Pony.ai’s Gen-7 robotaxis are now testing there. Manchester Evening News quotes the company calling it the first step toward making the technology accessible to people across the UK. Uber says the test builds on its service with the same firms in Zagreb. It has not given a date for passenger trips, and said further details would follow.
The Guardian reports that the cars are mapping the streets with a safety driver at the wheel, and that no passengers are being carried. Verne said it had started the testing. Pony.ai said testing was under way.
Not the London service
Uber’s London robotaxis use Wayve, and a driver is still in the car. London launch The number of cars in the Manchester test has not been given.
Uber says it hopes to be running autonomous trips in up to 15 cities by the end of 2026. It says it already offers them on its app in Abu Dhabi, Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Dubai, Las Vegas, London, Riyadh and Zagreb.
Greater Manchester has not been asked
Transport for Greater Manchester said permission to operate comes from the Government, not from Greater Manchester. No company has applied to run driverless taxis in the city region. The authority said it knows firms are interested, and that it will want strong assurances before any vehicle that puts residents at risk is allowed on the road.
TfGM also said it wants the area’s taxis to be the safest in the country, and pointed to its call for a ban on out-of-area licensing in England.
The London Assembly transport committee’s report is a separate argument about the capital. Assembly report