Can London’s black cabs survive driverless cars?

Mini cabs have begun to invade the streets of London.

Small cars charging a third less than ordinary cabs.

Taxi drivers think, blimey, they'll be using scooters next.

And in the last 50 years, the human brain, however optimized it might be, has faced stiffer and stiffer competition.

In 13 years, three months and five days, the 21st century will be with us.

Cabbies think they've seen off the threat from new technology at least twice before.

At the turn of the 21st century, there was this.

It's a concept car designed and built specially to try out new ideas.

And the system even includes this.

It's a satellite navigation system which gets you where you want to go with the minimum of hassle.

And then, of course, there were smartphone apps and map apps.

And then the big game changer, ride-hailing apps.

At first, in 2011, London had two apps.

They were headquartered in Britain.

But it was the arrival of a San Francisco-based technology in the summer of 2012 that changed the narrative.

One of the main issues for the taxi drivers is this new app called Uber.

A lot of people have got the Uber app and they're using it.

The power of the internet is even threatening us now.

The arrival of Uber revolutionised the taxi industry, and in 2014, as part of synchronised protests across Europe, up to 10,000 cabbies blocked the streets of central London.

The taxi drivers say they're not opposed to innovation, but an unregulated American company shouldn't be allowed to threaten their livelihood.

The company insists it's legal and is improving the way we travel.

We're fully compliant with all the private hire legislation.

It increases competition, which is good for all of us.

Some passengers had their reasons for moving to the new apps.

They said that the meter system on black cabs meant that you didn't know what you were paying up front and rides were more expensive.

Mini cabs have begun to invade the streets of London.

Small cars charging a third less than ordinary cabs.

Taxi drivers think, blimey, they'll be using scooters next.

And in the last 50 years, the human brain, however optimized it might be, has faced stiffer and stiffer competition.

In 13 years, three months and five days, the 21st century will be with us.

Cabbies think they've seen off the threat from new technology at least twice before.

At the turn of the 21st century, there was this.

It's a concept car designed and built specially to try out new ideas.

And the system even includes this.

It's a satellite navigation system which gets you where you want to go with the minimum of hassle.

And then, of course, there were smartphone apps and map apps.

And then the big game changer, ride-hailing apps.

At first, in 2011, London had two apps.

They were headquartered in Britain.

But it was the arrival of a San Francisco-based technology in the summer of 2012 that changed the narrative.

One of the main issues for the taxi drivers is this new app called Uber.

A lot of people have got the Uber app and they're using it.

The power of the internet is even threatening us now.

The arrival of Uber revolutionised the taxi industry, and in 2014, as part of synchronised protests across Europe, up to 10,000 cabbies blocked the streets of central London.

The taxi drivers say they're not opposed to innovation, but an unregulated American company shouldn't be allowed to threaten their livelihood.

The company insists it's legal and is improving the way we travel.

We're fully compliant with all the private hire legislation.

It increases competition, which is good for all of us.

Some passengers had their reasons for moving to the new apps.

They said that the meter system on black cabs meant that you didn't know what you were paying up front and rides were more expensive.