The UK’s timeline for introducing fully autonomous vehicles has slipped, with Government approval for self-driving technology now not expected until the second half of 2027.

The previous Government had signalled a potential launch by 2026 following the passing of the Automated Vehicles (AV) Act, designed to position the UK at the forefront of the self-driving revolution.

The legislation, introduced in the King’s Speech in late 2023, set the legal groundwork for autonomous vehicle liability — confirming that when a vehicle is in self-driving mode, the manufacturer, not the driver, will be held responsible for its actions.

However, despite the AV Act becoming law, secondary legislation is still needed to enable the full deployment of driverless cars on UK roads.

Currently, limited self-driving tech is permitted — such as assisted lane keeping and traffic jam pilot features — but a driver must remain behind the wheel and in control at all times.

The Department for Transport (DfT) told the BBC that it is “working quickly” to advance the rollout and is exploring short-term trials to support a thriving self-driving vehicle sector.

A number of firms are already testing autonomous systems in the UK.

British AI start-up Wayve is conducting road trials, while Uber has indicated it is ready to deploy its robotaxi fleet, which already operates in parts of the US.

Tesla is also demonstrating its Full Self-Driving (FSD) system across Europe, although a UK launch date remains unconfirmed.

While the US, Canada, Mexico, and China already allow some form of autonomous vehicle usage, the competitive nature of the market has led some OEMs to rethink their strategy.

General Motors recently shelved plans to scale its Cruise robotaxi business, choosing instead to refocus efforts on integrating advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) into its core product range.

GM cited the intense resource demands and crowded robotaxi market as reasons for winding down the Cruise programme, which had once been a flagship of its autonomy ambitions.