Transport for London has raised concerns about congestion and job losses from robotaxis as ministers invite bids for autonomous vehicle operators. TfL is pressing ahead with detailed discussions with companies including Waymo, Nvidia, and Baidu ahead of what would be the UK's first commercial deployment of self-driving taxis and buses.

London presents a major test for autonomous vehicle technology, with US and Chinese tech giants vying to operate in one of the world's largest taxi markets. The city's complex traffic and dense urban environment pose significant challenges for AI systems, while also offering a lucrative prize for operators who can meet regulatory requirements.

TfL officials question whether the technology is truly proven and warn that autonomous vehicles would need to meet current private hire requirements, which they currently cannot fulfill. The authority's concerns echo warnings from taxi drivers and unions about potential job displacement, though the government claims the technology will create jobs.

Recent incidents, including Waymo vehicles getting stuck in dead-end streets and driving through police cordons, underscore technical hurdles remaining. Despite these issues, ministers frame the pilot as a safety initiative, claiming human error causes 88% of collisions. The race is on to deploy robotaxis in London this year.