Uber has officially commenced a trial of autonomous vehicles on public roads in Manchester, marking the company's latest effort to expand its self-driving technology across the United Kingdom. The project utilizes existing technology provided by partner firms Pony and Verne. This expansion follows a recent collaboration between the three companies in Zagreb, Croatia, where they launched what they describe as Europe’s first autonomous taxi service.

While Uber has expressed enthusiasm regarding the trial, describing it as a significant step toward making autonomous technology accessible to the broader UK public, the company has not provided a specific timeline for when these vehicles might be available for general passenger use. Both Pony and Verne have confirmed their involvement via social media, noting that testing is currently underway. The trial represents a shift in Uber's strategy to integrate autonomous systems into its ride-hailing infrastructure. As the testing phase begins, the companies involved are focused on gathering data and refining their systems within the urban environment of Manchester. There is currently no information regarding the specific safety protocols or the number of vehicles involved in this initial testing phase.