If you just remember one thing from this briefing…
Four months after the permit scheme opened, DVSA has issued zero driverless passenger permits.
The Automated Passenger Services regime has been in force since 15 May, but no operator has been granted
a permit to run a driverless passenger service anywhere in Great Britain. Uber and Wayve's London pilot,
like every other UK trial, still runs with a safety driver because no other legal route exists. Ask your
team: are we treating any operator's "driverless by" date as fact, or as a claim still waiting on a
permit nobody has received?
Priority22 Sep
Mercedes-Benz signs production deal to fit Wayve's AI Driver to future cars
Mercedes-Benz and Wayve signed a production deal covering urban and highway driving assistance, built
on Mercedes' earlier Series D investment. Mercedes is the first premium manufacturer to commit to
Wayve's camera-based system, after earlier deals with Nissan and Stellantis.
So what: Wayve now earns from consumer driver-assistance, not just robotaxi
fleets, cutting its dependence on Uber's rollout pace. It is the clearest UK AV export win yet.
PrioritySince 15 May, unresolved
DVSA has granted no automated passenger service permit, four months in
The APS Permits Regulations 2026 took effect in May, but DVSA has issued no permit for a driverless
passenger service. Every UK trial, including Uber and Wayve's London pilot and Apollo Go's Brent
testing, runs with a human safety driver because no permit exists to remove one.
So what: treat any operator's driverless launch date as aspiration, not fact,
until DVSA grants a permit. None has been issued since the scheme opened.
Watch14 Sep, unconfirmed
Waymo's reported Berlin plans stay unconfirmed; Munich is its only declared city
Berlin Senate documents reported by Manager Magazin and Spiegel describe Waymo preparing to map the
city and test up to 50 vehicles this year. Waymo has not confirmed this and holds no KBA Level 4 test
or operating permit in either Berlin or Munich.
So what: treat Berlin as unconfirmed reporting, not a second city, until Waymo
or the KBA say otherwise. Munich stays the only commitment on record.
PriorityOngoing
Unions keep pressing TfL and Uber as licences grow, with no fresh poll this fortnight
GMB has called Uber's London rollout "premature" and wants a driver-protection plan before expansion;
the App Drivers and Couriers Union remains opposed. No new survey was fielded this fortnight — June's
YouGov finding of 42% opposed to 29% in favour among Londoners still stands.
So what: organised driver opposition runs alongside, not behind, measured
opinion. Weight client launch communications against both, not just passenger reaction.
