Chipmakers AMD, Arm, and Qualcomm are all investing in this buzzy self-driving tech startup

In a significant move for the self-driving vehicle sector, chip manufacturers AMD, Arm, and Qualcomm have collectively invested $60 million in Wayve, a UK-based startup specializing in autonomous technology. This funding comes as an extension to Wayve's impressive $1.2 billion Series D funding round, announced on Wednesday. Wayve has garnered attention from a host of prominent investors during this funding round, including major automotive players like Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Stellantis, as well as returning supporters such as Nvidia, Microsoft, and Uber. The funding landscape is set to expand even further, with Uber pledging an additional $300 million based on milestones related to the deployment of robotaxis that utilize Wayve’s technology in London. Beyond financial backing, the partnerships with AMD, Arm, and Qualcomm signify a strategic alignment aimed at leveraging diverse computing platforms essential for Wayve’s self-driving systems. The startup has pioneered a unique approach to autonomous driving that does not depend on specific sensors, chips, or exhaustive maps. Instead, Wayve’s software employs an end-to-end neural network, utilizing data captured from any available sensors to guide the vehicle in driving. Wayve's technology is versatile, capable of operating on the existing chips of its OEM partners, which enhances its appeal to automakers. The startup offers two primary products: an “eyes on” assisted-driving system, which requires driver vigilance, and an “eyes off” fully automated-driving system designed for specific environments, suitable for both robotaxis and consumer vehicles. Already, Wayve has secured partnerships with automotive giants, with Nissan planning to integrate its technology into the advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) of its vehicles starting in 2027. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis are set to incorporate Wayve’s innovations in their upcoming models. According to Wayve's co-founder and CEO Alex Kendall, this new funding will facilitate the integration of their technology across various automotive computing platforms and accelerate the deployment of the Wayve AI Driver in production systems for ADAS and autonomous driving. Kendall emphasized, "For embodied AI to scale, automakers need design choice and supply chain flexibility. Expanding our relationships with leading silicon companies helps bring that into production at a global scale."