Uber trials autonomous vehicles in Pittsburgh

Car-sharing service Uber has launched its pilot self-driving program in Pittsburgh, United States, as it joins the race to develop fully autonomous vehicles.

The San Francisco-based startup has transformed the taxi industry, on its way becoming a $68bn business, and has made no secret of its plans to ultimately replace drivers with self-driving cars in the future.

Only four vehicles of this nature will be made available to passengers in the region, and they will be assisted by a further passenger initially to take over when the car cannot drive itself.

"I really believe that the most important thing that computers are going to do in the next 10 years is drive cars," said Anthony Levandowski, leader of Uber’s self-driving car effort.

The company provided test drives for journalists on Tuesday, with many reporters saying that the system was both safe and smooth.

Uber opened its Advanced Technologies Centre last year, using 40 experts to research the technology. Competition is fierce in the autonomous car market, as companies from General Motors, to Tesla and Google owners Alphabet have spent millions on investment in the area.