The UK government has set its sights on putting fully autonomous vehicles on public roads by 2027. It’s a landmark decision that’s been years in the making, with legislation recently passed to pave the way for this futuristic mode of transport. But while the country is gearing up for a slow and steady rollout, Uber has thrown its hat into the ring with a bold message: we’re ready now.

In May 2025, the UK passed the Automated Vehicles Act, a piece of legislation that lays out the legal groundwork for the use of driverless cars on public roads. The government says 2027 is the target date for deployment – a timeline that reflects both ambition and caution. Ministers say they want to ensure safety, public confidence, and the readiness of infrastructure before opening the roads to fully self-driving vehicles.

The focus is on creating a comprehensive regulatory framework that covers liability, insurance, and vehicle approval standards. According to government estimates, the self-driving industry could be worth up to £42 billion and create 38,000 jobs by 2035.

Meanwhile, ride-hailing giant Uber has made waves by claiming its technology is already ready for deployment. The company has been testing autonomous vehicles for years, and in select US cities, it’s already operating a limited number of robotaxis in partnership with self-driving firms like Waymo and Aurora.

Speaking at a recent tech conference in London, Uber’s CEO stated that the company could launch driverless services in the UK far sooner than 2027 – if regulators allowed it. “We’re not waiting for the technology,” he said. “We’re waiting for the green light.”

Uber argues that waiting until 2027 risks putting the UK behind global competitors in the race to embrace autonomy. Countries like the US, China, and the UAE are already rolling out pilot programmes and commercial services.

Still, many experts say the government’s caution is justified. Public trust remains a major barrier, especially after well-publicised incidents involving self-driving vehicles in other countries. Insurance firms and safety advocates warn that the roads must be prepared, not just technologically, but legally and culturally, before we can embrace autonomy at scale.

“Technology readiness doesn’t always mean public readiness,” says transport analyst Dr. Elaine Parker. “There’s still a lot of work to do to prove that these vehicles can handle real-world complexity.”

For now, 2027 remains the UK’s official launch year for driverless cars. However, with industry players like Uber pushing to accelerate the timeline, we may well see pilot programmes and limited services appearing earlier, especially in controlled environments like business parks, airports, or dedicated urban zones.

One thing is certain: the race for autonomous transport is heating up, and the UK must now strike a balance between innovation, safety, and public acceptance.