Sadiq Khan seeks cap on robotaxis as driverless cars near London roads

Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has called for a cap on the number of robotaxis allowed on the city's streets, in remarks reported on 1 November 2026. He said fully driverless taxis could add to congestion, worsen air quality and threaten the jobs of black cab and private-hire drivers, and he wants Transport for London (TfL) to have the power to control how such services operate, not only whether they may run. No figure for the cap or timetable was given.

A robotaxi is a taxi driven by software rather than a person. Cameras, radar and other sensors build a picture of the road, and artificial intelligence (AI) systems decide when to brake, turn or wait. Several companies want London to be one of the first big European cities where paying passengers can ride with nobody in the driving seat. That makes the rules set now a test case for how cities manage AI on public roads.

Khan's argument is about scale more than safety. Even if each vehicle drives well, a large fleet of cars circling for fares could add traffic to busy streets. The mayor noted that London cannot cap even ordinary taxis and private-hire cars today, and his call is an attempt to settle the question for driverless fleets before they arrive.

There is also the question of work. London's black cab drivers must pass "the Knowledge", a demanding test of the city's streets, and many private-hire drivers depend on app-based work. Their groups have argued that driverless fleets could cut into their income. Khan named their livelihoods among his reasons.

The companies are pressing ahead with testing and plan paid driverless rides once national approval comes. The national law sets the overall framework, so how much local control London gets will be decided by the government, and it will shape how fast those plans move.

For India, where AI-driven mobility is still mostly at the testing stage, the London debate is an early example of the questions city authorities will face: who licenses a driverless fleet, how many vehicles are allowed, and how displaced drivers are treated.

Who wants what in London's robotaxi debate Group | Position Mayor Sadiq Khan | Cap robotaxi numbers; more powers for TfL London Assembly Transport Committee | TfL powers to cap fleets and withdraw permits Robotaxi operators | Want to launch driverless services in London Taxi and private-hire drivers | Worried about jobs and income

Short-term: The call adds pressure on the national government to give London's transport body more say before any fully driverless service is approved. Trials with safety drivers continue.

Long-term: If TfL gains the power to cap fleets, robotaxi firms may have to bid for limited permits, slowing growth but giving the city control over traffic and emissions. Other UK cities could seek similar powers.

Who is affected: Robotaxi companies planning London services, black cab and private-hire drivers, TfL, and Londoners who would use or share the roads with driverless cars.

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