Robocabs in London – what is the role of TfL?
- How does Transport for London (TfL) plan to work with the Government on considering licensing applications for autonomous passenger vehicle services in the capital?
- How might they work in practice and how could they impact jobs, licensing, regulation, road danger, congestion, accessibility, passenger safety, cyber security and Londoners’ transport choices?
TfL remains the licensing authority for taxi and private-hire services. However, for autonomous passenger services, TfL’s current status is that of a consenting authority, as opposed to a licensing authority. The Drivers and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport, is the licensing authority and has the power to grant, withdraw, suspend and vary licences.1 In a letter to the London Assembly Transport Committee on 23 June, the Department for Transport said that local traffic authorities, including TfL and the appropriate London boroughs, are given a role to “consider local impacts and suitability.”2
Tomorrow, the London Assembly Transport Committee will explore TfL’s engagement with prospective operators of autonomous passenger services in London, and any work TfL has done to assess how they might help TfL achieve the Mayor's Transport Strategy targets.
The guests are:
- Christina Calderato, Director of Strategy, TfL
- Danny Price, Director of Sponsored Services and Regulatory Compliance, TfL
The meeting will take place on Tuesday 14 July at 10am in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- The Automated Vehicles (Permits for Automated Passenger Services) Regulations 2026, SI2026/439
- Department for Transport, Letter to the Committee: Automated passenger services permitting in London, 23 June 2026
- Read the agenda in full
- Caroline Russell AM, Chair of the Transport Committee, is available for interview
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor
- Find out more about the work of the Transport Committee
For more details, please contact Alison Bell on 07887 832 918 or at [email protected]. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.