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Uber has officially started trialling driverless taxis in Manchester
A futuristic era is on the horizon.
Emily Sergeant -
15th October 2026 
It’s official… driverless taxis have hit the streets of Manchester.
As the leading transportation company looks to bring robotaxis to other major cities around the UK, it has been confirmed that a trial of autonomous vehicles is now underway in Manchester – with the services being operated using the technology of Uber’s partner firms, Pony and Verne.
Uber said it was ‘excited’ to take this first step toward ‘making this technology accessible’ to people across the UK.
The three companies first collaborated on the deployment of a commercial robotaxi service back in March of this year, combining Pony.ai’s autonomous driving system, Uber’s global mobility platform, and Verne’s service ecosystem and operational framework.
At this time, there has been no official application to launch passenger services in Manchester, according to The Guardian.
However, posts on various social media platforms – such as X, LinkedIn, and Instagram – by each of the companies this week have confirmed that trials are underway in the city.
A statement from Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) on the rollout emphasises that safety is the ‘top priority’.
“New technologies play an increasingly important role in the growth of our city region,” TfGM said. “But they need to be introduced responsibly, safely and with real thought about what it means for our residents.
“Safety will always be our top priority, and we will need strong assurances that no vehicles will operate on our roads that pose any risk to residents.”
Manchester, we’re on our way! Today, we’re announcing that we’re partnering with @Verne_robotaxi and @PonyAI_tech to pilot autonomous vehicles in Manchester. Building on our service together in Zagreb, Gen-7 Robotaxis are now testing in Manchester. We’re excited to take this first step toward making this technology accessible to people across the UK. 🇬🇧
— Uber (@Uber) October 14, 2026
Uber said it’s aiming to offer robotaxi trips in as many as 15 cities worldwide by the end of 2026.
“Through a strong ecosystem of partnerships, autonomous mobility can both scale globally and more effectively,” commented Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi.
Read more:
- Greater Manchester’s ‘clean taxi’ plans backed by Government funding
- Police appeal for information after sexual assault attempt by ‘fake taxi driver’ in Manchester
“By bringing together Pony.ai’s proven autonomous driving technology, Verne’s operational and market expertise, and Uber’s global platform, we’re taking an important step toward making autonomous ride-hailing available to more riders in more places.”
Featured Image – Uber Investor
