Wayve, Uber, and Nissan have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop and deploy robotaxi services. The three companies plan a pilot in Tokyo by late 2026, using the Nissan LEAF equipped with Wayve’s AI Driver software. Riders would hail trips through the Uber app.
Highlights
- First Uber AV partnership in Japan: The collaboration marks Uber’s entry into autonomous vehicle services in the Japanese market.
- Global rollout momentum: Tokyo joins a planned robotaxi deployment spanning more than ten cities, including London.
- Safety operators initially on board: Vehicles will carry trained safety operators during the pilot phase.
- No HD map required: Wayve’s AI Driver learns from real-world data and generalizes across new environments without high-definition mapping.
How the Partnership Works
The goal is to integrate Wayve’s end-to-end AI autonomous driving system into Nissan’s base vehicle. The LEAF would then connect to Uber’s ride-hailing platform, matching robotaxis with passengers.
Uber plans to launch the service through a licensed taxi partner in Japan. The company is currently selecting partners and working with relevant authorities.
As part of the announcement, the companies revealed a prototype robotaxi based on the Nissan LEAF.
Why Tokyo
The partners are targeting one of the world’s most complex urban driving environments. Tokyo presents dense traffic patterns, intricate road layouts, and high safety standards. Wayve says it has been testing its technology throughout Japan since early 2025.
The Wayve AI Driver is designed to learn from real-world driving data. It can generalize across unfamiliar roads and cities. This approach supports rapid expansion into global markets and dynamic urban settings.
What the Leaders Said
Alex Kendall, Cofounder and CEO of Wayve, said: “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.”
Ivan Espinosa, President and CEO of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., said: “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.”
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, said: “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.”
Broader Context
The Tokyo announcement builds on Wayve’s recent momentum. The company secured $1.5 billion in Series D funding in February 2026. It also recently announced a collaboration with Qualcomm to advance production-ready end-to-end AI for ADAS and automated driving.
The partnership reflects a broader industry trend. Automakers, ride-hailing platforms, and AI technology firms are increasingly forming three-way alliances to bring robotaxis to market.
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