Sadiq Khan Calls for Cap on London Robotaxis

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has called for a cap on the number of robotaxis on the city's streets, as the UK government prepares to allow fully driverless vehicles to operate in the capital, The Guardian reports. Khan said politicians had not grasped the pace of change and that the Greater London Authority is lobbying the government for Transport for London to get more powers over automated vehicles.

Under current rules, Transport for London can only give or refuse consent for fully autonomous vehicles in London; it cannot manage or license robotaxi services. Khan named air quality, congestion and the jobs of private hire and black taxi drivers as open questions. "London isn't San Francisco," he said.

Freenow by Lyft is testing about 24 Baidu Apollo Go vehicles in the borough of Brent and hopes to launch fully driverless robotaxis as early as next year under a national licensing scheme. Uber has offered limited passenger rides in self driving cars from Wayve since September, with a safety driver in the front seat, under a licence from Transport for London. Drivers' unions have protested at the London offices of Wayve and Waymo in recent weeks.