Britain has pressed ahead with its self-driving agenda. The Department for Transport opened a call for evidence today, 4 December 2025, inviting road users, businesses and disability groups to shape how automated vehicles are introduced safely on to Great Britain’s roads. Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood framed the move as improving independence for disabled and older people while supporting growth in a high‑skill sector.

The timetable is now clearer. A passenger piloting scheme is slated to begin from spring 2026 to capture real‑world data, with a full policy consultation in the second half of 2026. Ministers are aiming for a world‑leading regulatory regime to be in place from the second half of 2027. For operators and investors, that implies an 18–24 month runway to plan capital, partnerships and hiring decisions.

Officials want input on the practicalities that will govern day‑to‑day operations: how vehicles are authorised and licensed, how incidents are investigated, how safety is assured over a vehicle’s life, and how cybersecurity is enforced against international threats. The direction of travel is ‘safety by design’, with software updates, remote supervision and data reporting treated as part of the system, not an afterthought.

Autonomy is already being tested here. Milton Keynes has approved plans to extend city-centre shuttle trials, and at Heathrow, DHL and Oxa have trialled moving baggage between terminals using self-driving cars. These controlled environments now feed into a national framework that aims to scale beyond depots and campuses while maintaining high safety standards.

Accessibility sits at the centre of the pitch. Transport for All welcomed the call for evidence and wants disabled people’s lived experience to steer vehicle design and service rules. In practice that means reliable ramps and restraints, intuitive audio‑visual prompts and booking systems that work with assistive tech-so independence improves without compromising safety.

The growth story is sizeable. Government estimates suggest up to 38,000 jobs and a potential £42 billion contribution to the UK economy by 2035 if the sector scales. For SMEs, the near‑term openings are in the supply chain: high‑accuracy mapping, depot automation, maintenance, sensors, safety validation, insurance services and cybersecurity. The winners will be those that can meet strict safety and data standards from day one.

Consider a mid‑sized courier in the North West running 50 vans. The realistic first step isn’t door‑to‑door autonomy; it’s yard moves, night‑time transfers and fixed‑route shuttles near depots and railheads. The business case mixes tighter scheduling, lower damage rates and potential insurance benefits, offset by higher kit costs, software fees and fresh training for safety operators and remote supervisors.

On the passenger side, global entrants are circling. Waymo has signalled plans to bring ride‑hailing services to London, which-if approved-would operate within the emerging national regime and local rules. Private‑hire operators should expect tougher requirements around data stewardship, remote operations and accessibility, with compliance likely to be a differentiator rather than a box‑tick.

Skills will be a gating factor. Beyond software engineers, the market needs AV safety drivers, remote operators, depot technicians, cyber analysts and incident investigators. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has emphasised safety as non‑negotiable and urged close collaboration with government, citing the complexity of Britain’s urban streets where unplanned interactions are routine.

What should companies do now? Feed real use cases into the consultation-yard automation, airport logistics, fixed‑route shuttles-so rules reflect operational realities. In parallel, prepare ‘ready but patient’ plans: map sites, write data‑governance playbooks, engage insurers early and design training that can scale quickly if pilots validate the economics.

Our take for retail investors: treat the second half of 2027 as the earliest point for scaled operations, with slippage risk as cyber rules, insurance models and liability testing settle. Exposure skews towards software stack providers, depot‑automation specialists and Tier‑1 suppliers of sensors and compute; pure robotaxi revenue is likely to arrive later than headlines suggest.