Self-driving cars should be taxed to offset job losses, thinktank urges

A UK thinktank has urged the government to introduce taxes on self-driving cars now to offset rising congestion and job losses, warning that widespread autonomous vehicle adoption would put hundreds of thousands of private hire jobs at risk. The call comes as the first robotaxis began operating on London's streets this month, with government projections that up to 40% of cars sold could have self-driving capability by the middle of the next decade.

Self-driving cars should be taxed to offset job losses, thinktank urges By Gwyn Topham Transport correspondentSource: The Guardian Technology https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology Report warns widespread autonomous vehicle adoption would put hundreds of thousands of private hire jobs at risk Taxes on self-driving cars should be introduced now in the UK to offset the rise in congestion and threats to jobs they pose, a thinktank has urged. The first robotaxis on London’s streets only started this month https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/03/london-first-self-driving-taxis-for-hire-wayve-uber , but government projections are that up to 40% of cars sold could be capable of self-driving capability by the middle of the next decade. Continue reading... https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/sep/11/self-driving-cars-should-be-taxed-to-offset-job-losses-thinktank-urges Get AI news in your inbox Daily digest of what matters in AI.