With several trials of autonomous passenger vehicles underway in London in 2026, and with operators aiming to launch commercial services by the end of the year, a London Assembly committee has launched an investigation to explore whether and how autonomous passenger vehicles could be licenced for commercial operations in London, and what role the Mayor and TfL should play in this.
The committee is also seeking to understand the impact of autonomous passenger vehicles, particularly in regard to employment in the taxi and wider private hire vehicle sectors, interactions with other road users and the ambitions in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy, including ‘Vision Zero’, a traffic reduction of between 10 to 15 per cent, and the target for 80 per cent of all trips to be made by active modes or public transport.
Among the key questions to be answered are:
• What do Londoners think about autonomous passenger vehicles?
• Who is responsible for licensing autonomous passenger vehicles in London and what role do the Mayor and TfL play in this?
• How close are commercial operators to deploying autonomous passenger vehicles for hire in London?
• Are autonomous passenger vehicles compatible with London’s strategic transport goals in the Mayor’s Transport Strategy?
• What are the principal risks associated with autonomous passenger vehicles in London, and can they be mitigated?
• To what extent are autonomous passenger vehicles accessible to all Londoners?
• What role should TfL and the Mayor play in the development and oversight of autonomous passenger vehicles?
As part of this investigation, the Committee has launched a Call for Evidence, inviting those with knowledge of this topic to respond.
If you are responding on behalf of an organisation, in a professional capacity, or have knowledge of this topic, please send your submissions to [email protected]. Please use ‘Transport Committee call for evidence’ as the subject title.
The deadline for submission is 26 June 2026.
(Picture: Olga Gonzalez)
