The report, published last week by the London Assembly’s transport committee, expressed concerns over the impact of robotaxis on congestion and public transport within the city, as well as accessibility for disabled passengers.

It found there was “considerable uncertainty around many of the claimed benefits of autonomous passenger vehicles” and called for central government to devolve more control over robotaxi firms to Transport for London.

Devolved control

“Rather than just accepting the autonomous passenger service model proposed by operators, London should be looking at the transport problems it is trying to solve and then considering what solutions this technology could provide,” said committee chair Caroline Russell.

Currently, the government decides whether fully autonomous vehicles can operate, with permits being issued by the Department for Transport.

TfL can only grant or refuse consent, and would be unable to regulate the usage of autonomous vehicles once they are on the street.

The regulator wants to retain the power to intervene, and is understood to see parallels with the introduction of Uber in the capital in 2012.

That process created unexpected problems, with the company being twice rebuffed in licence renewals.

The company was later sued by black cab drivers for allegedly providing false information to TfL, in a case that was dismissed this week as it was filed outside of a six-year time limit.

New technology

Protesters outside Wayve’s London headquarters on Saturday included drivers, campaigners and union members who called for better controls to be put into place for the transition to AVs, with funding in place for drivers to be reskilled.

Uber, which is working with Wayve on robotaxi trials in London, said robotaxis would offer “considerable benefits” and added that it is in communication with the government and local stakeholders.

Wayve said it is taking a “deliberately phased approach” and that AVs could make a “positive contribution” to London’s transport system.

Google sister company Waymo is also testing robotaxis in London and has announced plans to deploy 100,000 automated vehicles worldwide next year, amid aggressive expansion plans.