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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Gwyn Topham and Robert Booth

Driverless cars are coming to the UK – but the road to autonomy has bumps ahead

Illustration of London taxis
Robotaxis could start operating in regulated public trials as early as spring 2026 – but the rules are yet to be fully established, and testing may include a safety driver for some time. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images

The age-old question from the back of the car feels just as pertinent as a new era of autonomy threatens to dawn: are we nearly there yet? For Britons, long-promised fully driverless cars, the answer is as ever – yes, nearly. But not quite.

A landmark moment on the journey to autonomous driving is, again, just around the corner. This week, Waymo, which successfully runs robotaxis in San Francisco and four other US cities, announced it was bringing its cars to London.

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