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Next year, a fleet of self-driving Jaguar I-Pace SUVs will start rolling silently through the streets of London, not as posh Chelsea runabouts but as fully autonomous taxis, courtesy of American tech firm Waymo. Backed by the UK government and cheered on by the motoring industry, this pilot marks the country’s boldest leap yet into the driverless future.

Waymo’s no rookie either. The company already has its robo-taxis roaming across six U.S. states, with cars that have collectively clocked up more than 100 million miles. It’s also gone international, recently launching in Japan. Now, with a few British tweaks — likely including a penchant for roundabouts and an innate fear of cyclists — Waymo’s machines are headed for the capital.

The Robot Invasion Begins

London will be the first testing ground, where Waymo’s electric Jaguars will quietly map, learn, and ferry passengers through some of the most chaotic streets this side of Mumbai. It’s part of a new government-backed framework that allows companies to run autonomous services before personal driverless cars become legal — currently pencilled in for 2027.

In other words, while you still can’t legally let your Tesla drive you to Tesco, you can soon hail a taxi that does exactly that.

And Waymo won’t be alone. Uber, clearly not wanting to be outgunned by Silicon Valley rivals, has confirmed its own driverless trials will begin next spring — in collaboration with British AI mapping firm Wayve. Because nothing says “trust us” quite like the combined forces of a taxi giant and a startup run by machine learning PhDs.

The Government’s Grand Vision

UK Transport Minister Heidi Alexander is understandably chuffed. She calls the move “cutting-edge investment” that will make Britain a “world leader in new technology.” Lofty words, but not without merit — the UK’s regulatory framework for autonomous driving is among the most advanced globally, and this pilot could finally bring some Silicon Roundabout sparkle to Britain’s roads.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has even dubbed the project a “landmark moment.” Its chief, Mike Hawes, hailed it as proof that Britain’s ambition is translating into a “social and mobility revolution.”

Translation: if all goes to plan, you might one day flag down a taxi that never misses a turn, never gets distracted, and — crucially — never asks if you’ve “got any cash, mate.”

Why It Might Actually Work

Waymo insists this isn’t just a publicity stunt. The company already has engineering hubs in London and Oxford, and it claims the project will support the capital’s transport goals — namely, reducing collisions and improving accessibility.

“We’re making roads safer and transportation more accessible where we operate,” says Tekedra Mawakana, Waymo’s co-CEO. The firm argues that removing the human from the driving equation could drastically improve safety — a point backed by Road Safety GB director James Gibson, who puts it bluntly: “Autonomous vehicles hold the potential to significantly improve road safety because, quite simply, the human driver is removed.”

Ouch. Sorry, Clarkson.

But Let’s Be Honest…

Of course, we’ve heard the promises before. Nissan’s been running autonomous Leafs around UK roads for years, claiming to have brought driverless tech “one step closer to reality.” And yet, the reality is still full of messy edge cases — rogue delivery vans, double-parked Range Rovers, and pedestrians who think zebra crossings are optional.

Still, there’s something undeniably exciting about the idea. For all our British cynicism, seeing a Waymo silently glide down Oxford Street — steering itself, watching every cyclist, never missing a green light — might just be one of those moments where you realize: the future’s arrived, and it doesn’t need a steering wheel.

So, next year, when a driverless Jaguar pulls up outside your flat and flashes its lights, don’t panic. Just get in, sit back, and let the car do what it was built for — everything.

Source: Autocar

In the heart of Hammersmith and Fulham, a quirky new transport solution is turning heads and challenging conventional urban mobility. Since September 2024, ten bright yellow electric buggies—operated by startup Yo-Go—have been zipping around the borough in a limited trial that has both baffled and delighted Londoners.

At first glance, the buggies resemble glorified golf carts. But beneath their unassuming appearance lies a concept that might just make sense in a city overwhelmed by congestion, emissions, and the rising cost of car ownership.

Each Yo-Go buggy accommodates two passengers and their luggage, reaching a top speed of 20mph. They’re classified as L6e quadricycles, road-legal and redesigned for British weather, albeit with minimal protection from the elements. Powered by a 5kWh battery and 4kW electric motor, they offer up to 30 miles of range, recharged via solar panels or London’s lamp-post charging network.

The concept is simple and affordable: subscribers pay 10p per minute with a £10 monthly fee, while casual users are charged 20p per minute. Parking the vehicle reduces the rate to just 5p a minute. Compared to services like Lime or Zipcar Flex, the buggies are strikingly cost-effective.

Driving one requires a UK license held for at least two years and registration through the Yo-Go app, including ID verification and a 24-hour approval process. Once approved, users can locate a buggy in designated parking bays, scan a QR code, and drive away—returning the vehicle to any bay to end the session. Plans are underway to allow users to leave buggies on their own streets, further embedding them into community life.

The brains behind Yo-Go, automotive engineer Samuel Bailey, saw potential in an unlikely place: China. Partnering with vehicle manufacturer Marshell, Bailey brought the idea to London, refining the buggy’s design to better suit urban conditions. Though compact, the buggy boasts solid handling, decent suspension, and a surprising amount of agility, making it well-suited to the capital’s narrow and pitted roads.

“The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Bailey. “Each buggy is used around three times a day, and we now have about 5,000 registered users—from parents on the school run and carers, to builders transporting materials across the borough.”

Despite their novelty, Yo-Go buggies face skepticism. Critics question whether the vehicles are robust enough for year-round use and whether they’ll end up abandoned like other micro-mobility solutions. Bailey, however, is confident. Each buggy is registered to the user, and security features are built-in to deter theft or misuse.

While the interiors are basic—hard plastic panels, open storage boots, and few frills—the driving experience is refreshingly straightforward. With pedals labeled ‘Stop’ and ‘Go’, a clear dashboard, and responsive acceleration, even novice drivers can handle the buggy with ease.

Ultimately, the Yo-Go buggy may be more than just a novelty. In a city desperate for smarter, greener, and more economical transport options, this pint-sized electric vehicle could represent a modest but meaningful step forward. Whether it’s a glimpse of the future or just a clever experiment remains to be seen. But for now, it’s safe to say: London’s roads just got a little more interesting.

Source: Autocar

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