Uber has made a strategic investment in Wayve, extending the U.K.-based startup’s recently announced $1.05 billion Series C funding round. This collaboration will integrate Wayve’s AI technology into consumer vehicles, which could soon be used on Uber’s ride-hailing platform.
This announcement follows Uber’s recent decision to add Cruise’s robotaxis to its app starting in 2025, marking another step in Uber’s strategy to advance autonomous driving technology through partnerships.
Founded in Cambridge in 2017, Wayve has raised over $1.3 billion in the past two years from prominent backers including SoftBank Group, Nvidia, and Microsoft. Wayve’s approach involves a self-learning AI system that utilizes cameras and radar, similar to Tesla’s technology, but is designed to be adaptable across various automakers’ vehicles.
Currently, Wayve is testing its Level 2+ advanced driver assistance technology in Jaguar I-Paces and Ford E-Transits with safety drivers. The company has yet to start trials for Level 3 or Level 4 autonomous systems.
Details of Uber’s investment and the specifics of the partnership remain sparse. Neither company has disclosed a timeline for when Wayve-powered vehicles might be available on Uber’s network, the extent of their autonomous capabilities, or the size of Uber’s financial commitment.
Philips Babatunde