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London, the UK and Europe as a whole is on the verge of a transportation transformation. In Britain’s capital, firms like Wayve and Waymo are gearing up for a mass rollout of self-driving taxis, made possible by recent legislation.
Among the firms vying to capitalise on the sudden introduction of the technology is Freenow, owned by Lyft, a multi-mobility app that offers e-scooters and bike hires as well as taxi hailing.
In this exclusive interview with UKTN, Danny O’Gorman, the general manager for the UK and Ireland at Freenow, discusses how mobility has changed over the years and how the introduction of autonomous vehicles is about to shake things up.
Taxis have changed a lot, what has been the most impactful recent shift?
The biggest shift has been a complete change in consumer behaviour. Nowadays, consumers want apps that centralise their daily needs, such as apps that offer everything they need to move around.
This demand for convenience and smartphone first utility is what led to the creation of all in one mobility apps like Freenow by Lyft. For example, on our app, you can book a black cab or a private hire vehicle or a bike.
By offering instant access, live tracking, and flexible payment options all under one roof, we give customers exactly what they expect while also supporting drivers with ongoing demand.
What are the challenges of bringing autonomous taxis to a major city like London?
Bringing autonomous taxis to London requires navigating complex, historic road layouts, building public trust, and implementing a hybrid model that blends autonomous vehicles with human drivers.
The strategy hinges on addressing dense traffic, adverse weather, and regulatory requirements through a phased, collaborative rollout working closely with regulators and taking advantage of our data and expertise in the taxi sector.
London is preparing for a surge in AV transport, how might it impact the city?
It’s an exciting time and the introduction of AVs in London can significantly expand London’s transport network while supporting London’s vision zero and sustainability goals.
Crucially, autonomous vehicles will work hand in hand with London’s existing driver base during late night or early morning drops in supply, rather than replacing human workers.
Expanding the platform with a mix of autonomous and human options lowers passenger waiting times and improves the overall travel experience.
This growth ultimately encourages more people to give up private car ownership, expanding the total ridesharing market and creating even more earning opportunities for traditional drivers.
To ensure these vehicles benefit London, the most effective approach is a managed rollout where driverless technology safely coexists alongside London’s iconic black cabs and private hire vehicles.
Do you see autonomous taxis becoming the norm?
Different transport modes serve different customer needs and London benefits from having a layered system rather than a single dominant model.
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) won’t replace human drivers; instead, they will work alongside them to create a better, more reliable network. The future of ride-hailing is hybrid, blending the efficiency of AVs with the scale and adaptability of human drivers to meet unfulfilled demand during peak hours.
Traditional services like black cabs remain essential to this mix, providing accessibility and deep community trust and private hire vehicles provide flexibility and scale across a wide range of journeys.
Ultimately, this layered approach is all about putting people first, giving riders the freedom to seamlessly choose the best option for their specific trip, comfort, and context.
What is something about your sector few people outside of it will know?
Contrary to the belief that autonomous vehicles (AVs) directly replace human drivers in a zero-sum game, data indicates that integrating AVs actually expands the total rideshare market by improving service reliability and boosting demand.
For example, in San Francisco, the global hub for this tech, the market added millions of new rides to the ecosystem. Meanwhile, Lyft rides in the region grew almost 10%.
As city transport becomes more efficient, this technological adoption is expected to grow the entire sector, which ultimately benefits passengers, drivers and operators.
