Wayve, Uber and Nissan team up on robotaxi pilot

Wayve, Uber and Nissan have announced plans to collaborate on the development of robotaxis, with a pilot programme expected to launch in Tokyo in late 2026.

The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin preparations for the service, which will use Nissan Leaf vehicles equipped with Wayve’s AI Driver technology and made available to riders through Uber’s platform.

The partnership marks Uber’s first autonomous vehicle collaboration in Japan and forms part of a broader plan by Wayve and Uber to roll out robotaxi services in more than 10 cities globally, including London.

Under the arrangement, Wayve’s end-to-end artificial intelligence autonomous driving system will be integrated into Nissan vehicles and connected to Uber’s ride-hailing network.

During the initial phase, the vehicles will operate with a trained safety operator onboard while the service is tested.

The companies say Tokyo presents a challenging environment for autonomous vehicles due to its dense traffic, complex road layouts and strict safety standards.

Wayve co-founder and chief executive Alex Kendall says the partnership represents a key milestone in bringing autonomous driving technology to the Japanese market.

“Tokyo represents an important step forward in bringing embodied intelligence to one of the world’s most sophisticated mobility markets.

“We have been testing our technology throughout Japan since early 2025, building extensive experience in the country’s unique road environments. Partnering with Uber and Nissan to begin pilot deployment of Robotaxi allows us to introduce this technology in a responsible way, while continuing to learn and expand.”

Nissan president and chief executive Ivan Espinosa says the collaboration builds on the company’s work integrating advanced AI technology into its vehicles.

“Nissan is proud to collaborate in this next chapter of mobility innovation. Our work with Wayve to integrate advanced AI technology across our consumer vehicle portfolio has laid strong foundations, and we are excited to take this partnership further with a pilot deployment of Robotaxi in Tokyo, bringing together Wayve’s AI technology, Uber’s network, and Nissan vehicles.

“Nissan’s vision is to bring mobility intelligence to everyday life, and we believe this initiative reflects how we translate that ambition into real-world applications.”

Uber chief executive Dara Khosrowshahi says autonomous vehicles are expected to play an increasing role on the company’s platform.

“Autonomous mobility is becoming an increasingly important part of the Uber platform. We are excited to expand our collaboration with Wayve and to work with Nissan to bring robotaxi services to Tokyo.

“Following our planned pilot deployment in London, we look forward to expanding into Tokyo and introducing new, modern ways to travel in some of the world’s largest cities.

“It also reflects our long-term commitment to Japan, a critical market where innovation can help address driver shortages and support the future of urban transportation. Our goal is to give riders more ways to move with seamless access through the Uber app.”

Uber says the service will be launched through a licensed taxi partner in Japan, subject to discussions with authorities, and the company is currently selecting local partners.

As part of the announcement, the companies also revealed a robotaxi prototype based on the Nissan Leaf.

The companies say the collaboration aims to support the global expansion of autonomous mobility by combining Wayve’s AI technology, Nissan’s vehicles and Uber’s ride-hailing network.