Uber, Wayve and Nissan plan to launch a robotaxi service in Tokyo this year

In an exciting development for urban transportation, Wayve, a U.K.-based company specializing in autonomous vehicle software, has announced a collaboration with Uber and Nissan to introduce a robotaxi service in Tokyo. This initiative, backed by a recent funding round of $1.2 billion, is set to launch its pilot program in late 2026. Wayve will be integrating its innovative AI-driven self-driving technology into the Nissan Leaf, which will operate within Uber’s ride-hailing platform. This marks Uber's inaugural venture into robotaxi partnerships in Japan and follows a growing trend of collaborations aimed at enhancing autonomous ride-hailing services. The startup boasts that its autonomous software is versatile enough to function across various vehicles and hardware configurations, eliminating the need for high-definition mapping. In addition to the Tokyo initiative, Wayve is also preparing to roll out a separate robotaxi service in London in partnership with Uber, while simultaneously working on implementing its driver-assistance technologies in Nissan models expected to hit the market in 2027. Uber continues to expand its global reach in the autonomous vehicle sector, having established over 25 partnerships worldwide to date. Just recently, it revealed plans to introduce Zoox’s specially designed robotaxi on its app in Las Vegas later this year, signaling its commitment to leading the future of self-driving transportation.