Summary - Autonomous Vehicles and Public Transport UK 2026

The UK is entering a defining phase in the evolution of autonomous mobility. Following the introduction of the Automated Vehicles Act 2024, the country is accelerating the development of regulatory frameworks and commercial trials to enable the deployment of self-driving vehicles on public roads. London is expected to become a major testing ground for autonomous mobility, with companies including Wayve, Uber and Waymo advancing plans for robotaxi and autonomous vehicle trials across the capital. Recent announcements regarding driverless vehicle pilots, AI-enabled transport systems, and increased investment into the UK autonomous vehicle ecosystem are further accelerating industry momentum.

At the same time, public transport systems across the UK are facing increasing pressure to improve operational efficiency, address workforce shortages, reduce emissions, enhance accessibility, and deliver more flexible mobility solutions. Autonomous buses, shuttles, and demand-responsive transport services are increasingly being explored as part of the future mobility ecosystem, particularly for first/last-mile connectivity and underserved areas. As the industry moves beyond pilot projects, there is growing focus on how autonomous technologies can be integrated safely and effectively into existing public transport networks while ensuring reliability, public trust, affordability, and commercial viability.

Against this backdrop, Global Mass Transit is organising a conference on ‘Autonomous Vehicles and Public Transport UK’, on October 6, 2026 at Park Plaza London Riverbank.

The mission of the conference is to discuss practical deployment strategies, operational challenges, regulatory developments, business models, and the future role of autonomous buses, shuttles, and demand-responsive transport solutions within urban and regional mobility systems.

The conference will bring together transport authorities, policymakers, public transport operators, technology providers, OEMs, startups, and mobility leaders to explore how autonomous technologies can be safely, effectively, and economically integrated into public transport systems.

The conference will serve as a platform to examine the latest developments, share deployment experiences and lessons learned, explore policy and regulatory frameworks, assess business models and investment strategies, and identify pathways for scaling autonomous mobility solutions across public transport networks in the UK and beyond.

Moving from pilot projects to large-scale deployment
Regulatory frameworks, safety, and liability considerations
Autonomous buses and shuttles: deployment experiences and lessons learned
Integration of autonomous vehicles into existing public transport networks
Case studies and best practices
Planning and operational challenges for public transport authorities and operators
OEM and operator perspectives – Scaling shuttles, robotaxis, and fleet electrification
AI, deep learning, and autonomous driving software stacks
Sensor fusion: LiDAR, RADAR, cameras, and INS systems
Cloud computing and edge AI for AV coordination
ADAS systems for safety and route optimisation
Digital infrastructure needs: V2X, V2I, V2V communication systems
5G/6G readiness and network reliability for autonomous operations
Digital twins for simulation, modeling, and real-time system optimisation
Charging and energy supply infrastructure for autonomous bus and shuttle fleets
Data-driven fleet management and predictive maintenance
Safety, digital infrastructure, and cybersecurity in AV public transport
The future of shared, on-demand, and last-mile mobility using AVs
Future plans, funding models, and technology integration roadmaps
Leveraging MaaS platforms for autonomous, shared and on-demand mobility
Business models and economic sustainability for AVs in public transport
Public acceptance, passenger trust, and accessibility considerations
The convergence of autonomous and zero-emission transport systems
Partnerships between transport authorities, operators, and technology providers