London driverless taxi rollout stalls as operators await licensing guidance

The introduction of driverless taxis in London has been delayed after Transport for London confirmed it is not yet ready to accept applications from companies hoping to operate autonomous passenger services in the capital.

Senior TfL officials told the London Assembly that guidance required for operators to apply for consent under the new automated passenger services (APS) permit regime has not been published, leaving firms unable to progress through the multi‑stage approval process. The DVSA, which must certify vehicles before TfL can grant consent, has also not approved any robotaxi models to date.

Companies including Waymo, Wayve and Baidu have signalled their readiness to deploy services in London, but all are waiting for clarity on how to meet the regulatory requirements. More than 100,000 Londoners have registered interest in trialling robotaxis, yet the launch timeline has slipped as regulators continue work behind the scenes.

TfL said the guidance will be issued only once it is confident the framework is robust, citing the complexity of assessing autonomous vehicles operating on public roads. The delay means the rollout, previously expected to begin this year, is now unlikely to proceed until operators can submit applications and complete DVSA certification.

The government has promoted autonomous transport as a key innovation for UK mobility, but London’s deployment remains on hold until regulators finalise the licensing pathway.